Services
Strata and Community Title
Strata and community title living brings a distinct set of disputes — building defects, unpaid levies, by-law disagreements and governance disputes between lot owners and owners corporations. These disputes are rarely straightforward: they often involve multiple parties, technical building issues, and the added complexity of the Strata Schemes Management Act and related legislation.
Archer Lawyers advises owners corporations, strata committees, strata managers and individual lot owners across NSW, including representation in NCAT proceedings. Whether you're an owners corporation pursuing a builder over defective common property, or a lot owner disputing a by-law, we provide clear, practical advice aimed at resolving disputes with minimal disruption to the scheme.
We advise on the full range of strata and community title law, including:
- Building defect claims: advising owners corporations from first notice of an alleged defect, through expert engagement, rectification and, where necessary, claims against builders or developers
- Unpaid levies and recovery action: advising owners corporations on recovering unpaid levies, including interest, recovery costs and enforcement action against defaulting lot owners
- By-law disputes and enforcement: advising on the validity, interpretation and enforcement of by-laws, including disputes over renovations, pets, short-term letting and use of common property
- Common property disputes: advising on rights and responsibilities relating to common property, including repairs, alterations, access and exclusive use arrangements
- Governance and committee disputes: advising owners corporations and strata committees on meeting procedures, voting disputes, motions and decision-making obligations under strata legislation
- NCAT proceedings and representation: representing owners corporations, strata committees, strata managers and lot owners in NCAT proceedings, from mediation through to hearing
- Strata building bond and defects bond claims: advising owners corporations on claims under the strata building bond scheme for defects in newer buildings
- Insurance disputes: advising on strata insurance claims, disputes over coverage, and the owners corporation's insurance obligations
- Mediation and dispute resolution: assisting parties to resolve strata disputes through mediation or negotiation before matters proceed to NCAT
- Community management statements: advising on the interpretation and enforcement of community management statements, and disputes between associations and precinct or neighbourhood schemes
Outcomes we help clients work toward include:
- Defects rectified or compensated without unnecessary delay
- Levies recovered, or a levy dispute resolved fairly
- By-laws enforced, or a by-law dispute resolved without escalation
- Common property issues resolved in a way that protects the interests of owners corporations or lot owners
- Governance disputes resolved with minimal disruption to the ongoing operation of the owners corporation
- Clear governance advice that reduces the risk of future disputes
