Investors to benefit from new strata laws

The changes are going to present great opportunities for investors in older blocks, opening up the chance to sell to developers or renovate to increase capital growth without 100 per cent backing by other owners, said Lannock Strata Finance CEO Paul Morton. 

“The new laws have been designed to not only make it easier to update ageing buildings, but to increase density as part of the government’s urban renewal strategy,” he said. 

“Apartment owners can choose to cash in by selling to a developer, but they may be better off holding on and redeveloping their property to perhaps add a penthouse or other amenities with the benefits shared by all owners,” he said.

Not everyone is happy with the changes; critics of the laws have said they will provide unfair pressure on financially vulnerable residents who may be forced into changes they do not support.

Other changes that will come into place include the role of developers in strata committees – they will no longer be able to act as strata managers or vote on building defects.

Owners will also need to review the funding of a 10-year capital works budget (previously called a ‘sinking fund’) at their initial and annual meetings; previously only a 12-month budget was considered.

Mr Morton said this should not change how investors finance their capital works budget.

“Owners retain the right to choose to fund capital works by regular levies, one-off levies, borrowing or any mix of the three. The only material difference is that they now need to consider a 10-year capital works time-frame instead of just one year,” he said.