The History of Strata and Strata Management

Strata titled properties were originally developed as a way to allow individuals to own an apartment within multi-level buildings. Under this scenario a person could buy and own ‘property’ that may be a substantial distance above ground level.

Prior to strata title, the most common way of buying into a high-rise building was to purchase shares in the company that owned the building - thus giving a right to occupy space within the property. Commonly called ‘company title,’ there are still many company title buildings in Sydney today.

In New South Wales, to meet the challenges of strata titled properties, the first strata titles legislation was enacted in 1961 with the passing of the Conveyancing (Strata Titles) Act.

Strata management regulations have evolved considerably since its inception - with numerous reviews of the legislation as various Governments attempt to tackle the demands of communal living; attempting to ensure that all residents live harmoniously. The current piece of legislation enacted to guide owner’s corporation is the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996.

Strata Managers

Since the introduction of strata title management, it has been common practice for owner’s corporations, which were formerly known as the body corporate, to employ a strata manager to attend to their financial, secretarial and maintenance matters.

Initially these positions were filled by real estate agents, accountants or solicitors. However, with the introduction of new legislative and licensing requirements and as the management of buildings became more complex, many real estate agents, accountants and lawyers opted to withdraw from providing strata management services and to focus on their core business.

Therefore, a demand grew for specialised strata management services companies.

At The Strata Agency, we focus on providing sound administrative, secretarial and maintenance services to strata title properties with a special focus on creating a peaceful and harmonious environment for owners and occupants to reside. We service all areas of Sydney, including the North Shore, Eastern Suburbs and CBD, specialising in residential strata management, commercial strata management and prestige strata schemes and developments.

Our team proudly recognise the history of strata management but we are determined to embrace modern technology and contemporary modes of thinking to continually improve strata management for our clients. As such we stand by our mission statement of, “taking strata forward.” We are a fresh, vibrant organisation that offers superior customer service to owner’s corporation who appreciate informed advice and dedication.

If you have any questions regarding the history of strata management or how The Strata Agency can assist you, do not hesitate to contact us.