ACT Strata Inquiry Report Signals Major Reform Agenda
The release of the ACT Legislative Assembly’s Inquiry into the Management of Strata Properties marks one of the most significant reviews of strata legislation and practice undertaken in the Territory in recent years. Following more than 12 months of consultation, 128 submissions and four days of public hearings, the Committee has delivered 33 recommendations covering almost every aspect of strata living and management.
The breadth of the report reflects the growing importance of strata and community title living within the ACT’s housing landscape. As Canberra continues to increase housing density through apartments, townhouses and mixed-use developments, governments are increasingly recognising that effective strata governance is critical to housing affordability, consumer confidence and community wellbeing.
The recommendations address a wide range of issues, including strata manager licensing, professional standards, insurance transparency, executive committee training, decision-making processes, mixed-use developments, environmental initiatives, records management and consumer education. Perhaps most significantly, the Committee has recommended the establishment of a Strata Commissioner to provide education, dispute resolution and potentially compliance and enforcement functions.
The report also highlights growing expectations around professionalism within the strata sector. Recommendations relating to licensing, training and education recognise that managing strata communities requires specialised skills and knowledge that continue to evolve alongside increasingly complex buildings and regulatory requirements.
Importantly, the report does not represent law. Rather, it provides recommendations for consideration by the ACT Government, which will now determine which proposals it wishes to progress and in what form. As with any parliamentary inquiry, significant consultation and policy development will likely occur before legislative reforms are introduced.
SCA (ACT) played an active role throughout the inquiry process, providing detailed submissions and evidence on behalf of the profession. While SCA supports many of the report’s objectives, including improved consumer education, stronger governance frameworks and increased professionalism, it has also identified several recommendations that warrant further discussion to ensure reforms remain practical, balanced and capable of delivering positive outcomes for both consumers and the industry.
The release of the report represents an important milestone in the ongoing evolution of strata living in the ACT. It also reflects a broader national trend, with governments across Australia increasingly examining the governance, management and regulation of strata communities as higher-density housing becomes a larger component of the housing market.
SCA remains committed to ensuring any future reforms support well-governed, financially sustainable and professionally managed strata communities while maintaining a practical and workable framework for those responsible for managing them.
View Comments
(0)