Every matter overseen personally, first call to resolution
Claim values involved in, from $50,000 up to $50m
Response to enquiries received before 3pm
Acting for owners corporations and lot owners across the state
Archer Lawyers resolves strata disputes for owners corporations, strata committees, strata managers and lot owners across New South Wales — common property, by-laws, levies, repairs, access and governance.
Most strata disputes do not need a hearing. They need someone to read the documents, work out what the scheme can and cannot do, and deal with the other side directly. Where that does not resolve it, the route is mediation at Fair Trading and then NCAT, and knowing when to move to each is most of the work.
We act on both sides of these disputes, so the advice reflects how these matters actually resolve rather than how they would be argued.
We are a lean, hands-on firm. The person advising you is the person running your matter, from first instruction through to resolution.
Reading the documents, getting clear on what the scheme can and cannot do under its by-laws and the Strata Schemes Management Act, and dealing directly with the other side. We negotiate first. Where that does not resolve it, the route is mediation at Fair Trading and then an application to NCAT.
Usually not, and usually you should not want to. Most strata disputes resolve before a hearing, and NCAT will generally expect mediation to have been attempted first. We will tell you plainly whether your matter is one that needs to go there.
Strata is core work here, not something we take on occasionally. The by-laws, the Strata Schemes Management Act and the way NCAT actually runs a matter are familiar ground rather than something to get across at your cost. You also deal directly with the principal running your file, not a rotating team.
Matthew has built his career across boutique, national and international law firms, and personally oversees every matter Archer takes on, from the first call through to resolution. Resolving strata disputes is his bread and butter. He acts for owners corporations and individual lot owners on common property, by-law, levy and governance disputes, from the first letter through negotiation and mediation to NCAT.
A lot owner and owners corporation disagreed over responsibility for water ingress through a common wall.
A lot owner disputed a decision made at a general meeting on procedural grounds.
Owners disagreed over an arrangement giving one lot exclusive use of a common area.
— Rights and responsibilities over common property, including repairs and alterations
— By-law validity, interpretation and enforcement
— Exclusive use and access arrangements
— Levy recovery and disputes over how levies have been struck
— Owners corporation governance and committee disputes
— Negotiation and mediation first, and representation in NCAT where that is what it takes
— A dispute resolved by negotiation, before the cost and delay of a hearing
— By-laws enforced, or a by-law dispute resolved without splitting the scheme
— Common property responsibility settled and the repairs actually carried out
— Clear governance advice that reduces the risk of the same dispute recurring
Enforce by-laws and resolve common property disputes without splitting the scheme.
Challenge a by-law or a decision affecting your lot, or press for repairs that are not being done.
Advice on what the committee can properly decide, and how to make that decision stick.
Support on disputes between the scheme and its owners, without taking a side you should not.
Free to start, and you'll know within days whether we can help.
A few details on the form below — we get back to you personally, the same day if we receive it before 3pm.
Free Case ReviewA plain-English conversation about your options. Free, no obligation, and if we don't think you have a case, we'll say so.
If we take the matter on, our principal runs it personally through to resolution — not handed off to someone else.
Offices in Parramatta and Sydney — available for a conversation in person.
Phone and video consultations available at a time that works for you.
Tell us briefly what has happened. Our principal will personally review it and respond the same day if we receive it before 3pm.
We respond personally — no call centre, no automated queue.
