Strata Living

One if the key responsibilities of a strata scheme is the undertaking of the Annual Fire Safety Statement (AFSS), but it is not always clear what it...

We recently wrote an article on strata levies — what they’re for, how they’re set, and why they change. This time, we’re unpacking strata...

Neighbour noise? Parking problems? Learn the most common strata disputes in NSW and how to resolve them — calmly, quickly, and in line with the...

Not happy with your current strata manager, but unsure if you’re allowed to make a change? You’re not alone. Two of the most common questions...

Managing a strata building is no small task, and having the right strata manager makes all the difference. But what happens when the service you’re...

In a strata community, shared spaces and responsibilities go hand in hand. To ensure everything runs smoothly, each building is governed by a set of...

Managing a strata property in NSW involves more than just paying levies or organising repairs. It requires knowledge of legislation, strong financial...

Strata living offers many benefits; shared amenities, collective decision-making, and often, a strong sense of community. But all of this depends on...

When the Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down this year’s budget in mid-May 2024 it looked like not much change for apartment owners at...

Appointment of New General Manager for Jamesons Southern – Talia Smith Jamesons are pleased to announce the appointment of Talia Smith as the...

An Overview of the Strata Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 On 10th October 2023, the Strata Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 was introduced, proposing...

Strata title, community association, Torrens title – what do they all mean? Whether you’re inspecting a beautiful apartment in Sydney or are...

When living in a strata property, one of the most common issues that can arise is that of plumbing. If your plumbing goes awry, who is responsible...

When buying a strata property, there are many important things to consider, not the least of which is strata insurance. As many building defects...

Developed almost 60 years ago, Strata Title is an Australian creation which is now used by countries all around the world. In NSW, the NSW...

Generally speaking, the owner of a property is responsible for all maintenance and repairs within their lot and whatever isn’t common property....

Having a strata manager can make your life much easier – but what do they do? A strata manager can function as a first point of contact for repairs...

Strata developments come with a lot of moving parts, making it very hard to keep track of all the different issues to keep on top of, especially if...

Making sense of what’s covered when it comes to insurance for your strata property can be confusing – especially when you factor in other...

If you’re living in a strata building, it’s important to know who’s responsible for the maintenance costs in and around your apartment or lot....

The complexities of common property boundaries mean that as strata managers, we’re asked a lot of reasonable questions about who does what (and who...

It’s a commonly asked question for owners within strata committees; how often are strata meetings held? Here’s a rundown on the required and...

Did you know that the strata title is actually an Australian invention? This modern method of co-ownership is used all over the world, but the...

Your strata meetings are your opportunity to make your voice heard and have your say on important decisions that will affect your lifestyle and...

The structure of a strata scheme uses a number of collective and democratic methods for effective community living, and one of these is the...

By-laws exist in every strata scheme, but what purpose do they serve? They are policies that define the rules for harmonious living within a strata...

For some new owners within a strata scheme, the idea of attending your first Annual General Meeting can seem about as appealing as pulling teeth....

Brand new to the world of strata? Then this information is for you. Whether you’re considering buying an apartment that is part of a strata scheme...

If you’re living in strata, it’s important to know exactly what you and your strata scheme are each responsible for when it comes to maintenance...

In our video series Michael Vumbaca, General Manager at Jamesons Strata discusses what you need to know about insurance in strata....

In our video series Michael Vumbaca, General Manager at Jamesons Strata discusses the changes that have been made to the general...

You’ve probably heard about how important it is that strata owners attend their Annual General Meeting (AGM). That’s because your AGM is used to...

In the video Michael Vumbaca, General Manager at Jamesons defines strata. Video Transcript Strata for the inexperienced can be really confusing, so I...

If you’re confused about strata title management, rest assured you’re not alone. With many variations in strata law terminology across the...

As an investor in a strata complex, you automatically become a member of the owners corporation (also called the body corporate). This means you...

1. The strata manager decides how much I pay in levies each year and how much they will be paid for proving their service. Levies are decided at the...

A poll vote is a vote cast using the value of unit entitlement allocated to each specific lot. This method of vote is used for passing a special...

AGM & EGM: A quorum for a general meeting is determined by one quarter or more of the people entitled to vote, being present in person or by...

Only Executive Committee members can vote on agenda items at an Executive Committee meeting. The exception would be if an owner or company nominee of...

Proxy forms for a range of meetings and scheme types are available to download from the Jamesons Document Bank. For informatin on how to fill out...

We recently wrote an article on strata levies — what they’re for, how they’re set, and why they change. This time, we’re unpacking strata...

Strata insurance is one of the highest expenses for any owners’ corporation or body corporate. The good news?   You may be able to reduce your...

If you have anything to do with strata schemes in NSW, you’ll know the term ‘special levy’ pops up from time to time.  In fact,...

Let’s face it – when we hear the words ‘strata levy’ or ‘strata fees,’ they often conjure up images of tedious financial...

Are you mulling over a question about your strata fees, but unsure of how or who to ask about it? You can be sure as strata managers we’ve probably...

To understand what the capital works fund (also known as a sinking fund) is, it’s important to first clarify what types of strata levies can be...

Strata levies can often be a hidden sting for new owners, an unexpected second hangover after the elation of finally becoming an owner (the first...

A simple fact of strata living is that each strata’s levies are not the same. These mandatory body corporate fees can vary enormously depending on...

Every strata scheme has certain fees and levies that all owners have to pay. These are set at the Annual General Meeting and agreed upon by the...

One big reason to decide on strata living when you’re investing in a new property is sharing the costs for maintenance and updates of the property...

Strata living has great appeal because the costs of common property repairs, services and maintenance are shared through your strata fees. But what...

In our video series Michael Vumbaca, General Manager at Jamesons Strata discusses the changes that have been made to sinking funds. The...

If you lived in a building that you owned completely, you’d have to pay for all major works and renovations that the property needed. When you live...

Are My Strata Levies Increasing Too Fast? It’s easy to freak out about levy raises within your strata, however there may be a number of good...

In our Q&A video series Michael Vumbaca, General Manager at Jamesons Strata discusses rates and fees related to strata. Video Transcript Every...

Strata fees can vary enormously between different apartment blocks and unit complexes. Multiple factors are taken into account when drawing up strata...

Within NSW strata schemes, different kinds of levies exist as a mean of raising funds to keep a strata complex safe, functional and appealing to live...

We recently wrote an article on strata levies — what they’re for, how they’re set, and why they change. This time, we’re unpacking strata...

Neighbour noise? Parking problems? Learn the most common strata disputes in NSW and how to resolve them — calmly, quickly, and in line with the...

Not happy with your current strata manager, but unsure if you’re allowed to make a change? You’re not alone. Two of the most common questions...

Managing a strata building is no small task, and having the right strata manager makes all the difference. But what happens when the service you’re...

If your strata manager isn’t meeting expectations, you’re not alone — and you’re not stuck. Whether it’s communication issues, unkept...

Strata Levies: What You’re Paying For, How They’re Set, and Why They May Go Up Strata levies are one of the most frequently misunderstood parts...

The NSW Government has introduced significant changes to residential tenancy laws that affect both landlords and tenants. These changes are part of...

Big changes are coming to NSW strata laws from 1 July 2025. Learn what they mean for your building—from renovations and accessibility to committee...

Thinking of adding a furry (or feathered) friend to your home? You’re not alone. With more people choosing apartment and strata living, the desire...

Renovating your strata property in NSW is an exciting opportunity to modernise your space, increase property value, and enhance liveability. However,...

Sustainability is becoming an essential part of how we live, work, and manage our properties. In NSW, strata schemes play a crucial role in reducing...

At Jamesons, our mission is simple: to make our clients happier at home by leaving every building in a better place. With over 60 years’ experience...

When there’s a disagreement in your strata scheme, whether between lot owners and the strata management, corporate body or owners corporations, and...

At this time of year, you might have identified some cold draughts or areas of water damage that need to be fixed, or you may be thinking about ways...

Group CEO, Michael Vumbaca, was invited on Ticker TV AU to discuss his business ventures within the Strata Industry. Hosted by Mike Loder, Michael...

With around 80% of the City of Sydney’s population calling apartments home, most of us are living in a strata community in 2020 – and that number...

Coronavirus is changing the way we interact with our neighbours, but there’s never been a better time to look out for one other. Here’s how to be...

With current restrictions in Australia and New South Wales due to COVID-19, many of us might be facing new ways of interacting in our apartment...

For all parents, the safety of their child will be the key consideration when it comes to choosing a new home. As owning a house has become out of...

Balconies are a fantastic place to wind down after a long day at work or to host friends for a dinner al fresco, so it’s unsurprising that they...

Retirement should be a time for relaxation and enjoyment but, quite often, the ongoing effort of maintaining the spaces we used to need outweighs the...

Choosing eco-friendly strategies to greenify your strata means more than just increasing the value of your property. With the right strategies in...

Dealing with disputes and conflict are an unfortunate fact of life for any strata manager, but problems don’t need to spiral out of control. With a...

While we all love a good party, the noise disturbance and mess they can produce for those living in surrounding apartments can be an inconvenience....

There have been over 90 changes to the New South Wales strata laws with the introduction of the new Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, including...

So you’re joining a Sydney strata for the first time and you’re about to move in. In our experience, creating respect between yourself, your...

Traditionally, there’s been little incentive and a great deal of difficulty in putting sustainable principles in place within inner-city apartment...

Having no yard doesn’t rule out having a garden. You just have to be creative with the outdoor space you do have and, for many apartment dwellers,...

Starting up a community garden in a strata complex is not only good for residents’ health because of the access to fresh food and green spaces,...

Green living can provide each resident, whether living in a house in the north shore, eastern suburbs or in any strata in Sydney, with reduced energy...

We understand that rising energy costs can be frustrating! What if we told you that you could save on energy bills whilst also reducing your carbon...

Would you like to reduce you energy consumption and associated costs considerably? Earlier this year we took the initiative to investigate how we...

Having grown up in the leafy and spacious upper north shore before moving into the inner city, I discovered very quickly how much I missed...