The term “strata” should already be familiar to most Australians. It’s a specific model of property ownership that allows for individual ownership of lots and parcels within a strata scheme.
While countless Australians are involved with strata lots, many of them haven’t yet familiarized themselves with the whole system. Roles like strata manager, building manager, and property manager seem like they’re interchangeable—but they aren’t. Each serves a specific purpose that helps maintain the strata scheme properly.
Let’s go over each of these positions and how they influence strata lots and owners.
What is a strata manager?
Throughout Australia, there are many different strata schemes that require day-to-day management and regulation. While body corporate or the owners corporation can choose to take care of tasks on their own, they often choose to enlist the help of outside experts. These are known as “strata managers,” and they tend to have more experience with management and legislative responsibilities than the strata owners that enlist their help.
There are many companies that provide strata management as a service to help simplify this process. It’s often location-dependent, as people are more likely to put their trust in someone located close by. If your strata scheme is in Sydney, you’re more likely to look to Strata Management in Northern Beaches than a company stationed in Brisbane or Canberra. With the help of personalised strata services, these managers make it easier for strata lots to stay compliant with local laws, and they provide access to local resources that the strata scheme might require.
What is a building manager?
A building manager, sometimes known as a caretaker or resident manager, is an individual that coordinates the maintenance of a strata scheme. Much like the strata manager, they are often appointed by the body corporate or owner’s corporation to take care of the job. They organize everything from the maintenance of common property to the issuing of work orders. If cleaning is necessary, it’s their job to find a quality cleaning company to take care of it.
Owners, residents, and contractors may contact the building manager if they have any complaints or if they want to make changes. One of the building manager’s most important tasks is inspecting the strata scheme to determine if there are any by-law breaches. If any are found, they may contact body corporate to begin the process of resolving the issue.
What is a property manager?
Unlike the strata manager and building manager, the property manager isn’t employed by the owner’s corporation. Instead, they work in real estate agencies and act as middlemen in the management of residential tenancies.
Strata lot owners often enlist their assistance to help find suitable tenants, as well as take care of leasing contracts between parties. Though, strata owners may also request that property managers take over duties such as property marketing as well as rent collection. They’re also given all lot access devices and keys. In most cases, a tenant’s first point of contact will be with the property manager. Discussions of rent adjustments or changes can be done through the property manager or with the owner directly. If the tenant doesn’t adhere to the rules and by-laws of the strata scheme, the manager may also be their last point of contact, as they also deal with evictions.
There are some similarities between property managers and building managers. For starters, a property manager must inspect strata lots, but in this case, they do it to see if there are adequate fire and safety measures. Additionally, they take note of any elements that do not adhere to strata legislation.
What makes these roles so important?
While many of the tasks that are delegated to these three roles can be handled by members of the strata owner’s corporation, some are too time-consuming or require professional help. As a result, there’s usually a unanimous decision among owners to enlist the help of experienced personnel to take care of management, maintenance, and legislation adherence.
Each of these roles has proven to be so effective that most of today’s strata schemes employ all three types of managers. It’s a lot easier than delegating all of these tasks to individual owners, and it provides much better results.
Conclusion
Managing all the parts of a strata scheme is an incredibly complex process. The owner’s corporation must make sure that everything is by the books so that both tenants and owners can avoid disputes and legal issues. It’s unlikely that every strata scheme has owners that have the skills and proficiency to handle every legal and managerial aspect of the scheme. As a result, hiring outside assistance has become the norm. With help from an expert, keeping things in accordance with regulation and tenancy contracts becomes a breeze. It’s no surprise that these roles have become an essential part of every strata scheme.
