Although there are strata communities across all states and territories in Australia, the legislation that governs them and the language used to describe them is different.
To relieve some of the confusion, we’ve outlined the common terms and their variations in our quick reference guide.
Strata scheme
When you buy a property in a strata community, you own your individual lot (such as an apartment or townhouse) and share ownership of the common property, like driveways, gardens and onsite facilities. As an owner, you automatically become a member of the strata scheme.
Strata scheme is a generic term used for all types of strata, no matter which state you are in. The state where your unit is located determines what terminology is used when referring to the strata scheme.
A scheme is formed when a scheme statement is first registered and describes the land, building, assets and owners of the property. It’s given an identification number, eg SP1234.
| State/Territory | Registered as | Collective members | Commonly known as |
| QLD | Community Titles Scheme (CTS) | Body Corporate | Body Corporate |
| VIC | Owners Corporation (OC) | Owners Corporation | Owners Corporation |
| WA | Strata Company (SC) | Strata Company | Strata Company |
| SA | Strata Corporation (SC) | Strata Corporation | Strata Corporation |
| NSW | Strata Plan (SP) | Owners Corporation | Strata Plan |
| ACT | Unit Plan (UP) | Owners Corporation | Unit or Strata Plan |
| NT | Unit Plan (UP) | Body Corporate | Unit Plan |
| TAS | Strata Corporation (SC) | Body Corporate | Body Corporate |
Strata committee
The committee administers the day-to-day running of the strata scheme. Owners are elected to the committee at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) and hold their positions until the next AGM. Some members of the committee are elected to office bearer positions – Chairperson, Presiding Officer (SA), Secretary and Treasurer.
Depending on the state, the committee and office bearers can be referred to differently.
| State/Territory | Term |
| QLD | Committee for Body Corporate |
| VIC | Committee |
| WA | Council of Owners |
| SA | Management Committee |
| NSW | Strata Committee |
| ACT | Executive Committee |
| NT and TAS | Committee of Management |
Strata manager
A strata manager helps the owners’ corporation and/or committee run the strata scheme. The strata manager has a contract with the strata scheme and works in the owners’ collective interest. The strata manager typically manages the scheme’s meetings, legal compliance, and financial administration.
The strata manager has only the powers given to it by the scheme, which may delegate any of its functions and powers to a strata manager.
| State/Territory | Term |
| QLD, SA, NT and TAS | Body Corporate Manager |
| VIC | Owners Corporation Manager |
| WA | Strata Manager |
| NSW | Strata Managing Agent |
| ACT | Manager |
Legislation
The state legislation sets out the rights and responsibilities of strata schemes and of the individual owners and occupiers. The legislation covers administrative functions, maintenance responsibilities, record-keeping, appointment and the role of the committee, financial management, insurance requirements and dispute resolution.
| State/Territory | Legislation name |
| QLD | Body Corporate and Community Management Act (BC&CMA) |
| VIC | Owners Corporation Act |
| WA, SA and TAS | Strata Titles Act |
| NSW | Strata Schemes Management Act |
| ACT | Unit Titles (Management) Act |
| NT | Unit Titles Scheme Act |
Information for prospective buyers
When an owner sells a lot, they must provide information to prospective buyers. This may include how much the levies are, the strata scheme’s bank account balance, and any major work planned or known defects. The amount of information required is dependent on the legislation requirements.
If the purchaser is borrowing money, they may also need to confirm the building and public liability insurances held by the strata scheme.
| State/Territory | Legislation section |
| QLD | Insurance Disclosure Statement – Sections 205 and 206 |
| VIC | Owners Corporation Certificate – Section 151 |
| WA | Section 107 Application for Certificate under Section 110 |
| SA | Section 41 – Information to be furnished |
| NSW | Strata Information Certificate – Section 184 |
| ACT | Unit Title Certificate – Section 119 |
| NT | Disclosure Statement – Section 45 |
| TAS | Section 83 (5) and (6) – Contributions |
Financial contributions
The contribution or levy payable by each owner is proportionate to their unit entitlement. If levies aren’t paid, the owner may not be a financial member of the scheme and may not be able to vote at meetings.
Levies pay for things such as general administration, maintenance, gardening, cleaning, repairs and insurance.
The strata manager will generally establish and administer the bank account for the strata scheme, which may be split into different funds. In some states, this is mandatory. Examples of the funds are below.
Administration fund: This fund covers the strata scheme’s everyday costs, such as maintaining common property, paying for insurance, and other regular costs such as electricity, water, carpet cleaning and garden maintenance.
- Sinking, Capital Works, or Maintenance fund. This fund covers the cost of major capital works or emergency repairs to common property, such as painting, repairs and installing sustainability infrastructure. In WA, this is known as the Reserve Fund.
Dispute resolution
Each state has a tribunal or government entity an owner can apply to if they have a dispute with the strata scheme. Civil and Administrative Tribunals exist in all states.
| State/Territory | Tribunal |
| QLD | Queensland Civil & Administrative Tribunal (QCAT) |
| VIC | Victorian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) |
| WA | State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) |
| SA | South Australian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (SACAT) |
| NSW | NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) |
| ACT | ACT Civil & Administrative Tribunal (ACAT) |
| NT | Northern Territory Civil & Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) |
| TAS | Tasmanian Civil & Administrative Tribunal (TASCAT) |
Queensland also has the Commissioner for Bodies Corporate in the Justice Department and in Tasmania it’s The Recorder of Titles in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
