NSW Fair Trading has commissioned comprehensive research to evaluate current strata management agreements and practices across the state.
The research team, led by Dr Nicole Johnston in collaboration with Professor Peter Butt and Professor Cathy Sherry, is seeking senior managers and principals to participate in semi-structured interviews between now and 30 July 2025.
Fair Trading has established specific objectives for the research: strengthen protections for strata owners by ensuring agreements are fit for purpose, support managers to develop compliant agreements where owners and managers understand their rights and responsibilities, enhance oversight through digital platforms, and identify opportunities for agreements to regulate conduct in lieu of prescriptive rules under the Act and Regulation.
The project also aims to identify complementary reforms across the sector that will better enable these objectives, indicating a broader examination of how management agreements function within the regulatory framework.
The research team is looking for managers willing to engage in 30-60 minute online interviews at times convenient to participants. The findings may influence how management agreements are structured and regulated, with potential implications beyond NSW as other jurisdictions monitor the outcomes.
If you want to contribute to this research and help inform policy development, contact Dr Nicole Johnston at nicole@strataknowledge.com.
The interviews run until 30 July – participation provides an opportunity to ensure practitioner perspectives are included in the evaluation process.
Michael Teys advises strata management businesses on improving profitability through professionalisation and streamlined operating systems.
He has more than 30 years’ experience as a strata lawyer and academic and has owned 11 strata management agencies throughout Australia. He has a Master of Philosophy (Built Environment) and Bachelor of Laws. He lectures and writes widely about strata management issues in Australia and internationally.
