New apartment defect rectification guide released for NSW strata owners and managers

Researchers from UNSW Sydney’s City Futures Research Centre and the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) have, in partnership with the Strata Community Association (NSW) have developed the 'Strata Rectification Guide.

The online tool provides helpful information for property owners and strata managers to navigate the process of identifying, documenting, reporting and rectifying building defects in strata schemes.

While the NSW Government has introduced a suite of reforms to the multi-billion-dollar apartment building sector in the aftermath of Opal Tower, the guide complements these changes by focusing on consumers already in buildings impacted by defects.

Strata Community Association (NSW) President Chris Duggan believes this guide could be a ‘game changer’.

“With the state’s reforms and the Building Commissioner reshaping construction quality, this guide complements the retrospective effort of the strata industry in educating managers and assists consumers to deal with the practical realities of defects,” he said.

Martin Loosemore, Professor of Construction Management at UTS, noted defects in apartment buildings have been a concern in NSW for many years and more will be affected in the future.

“Parts of the industry have been worried about building defects for some time before Opal Tower put it on the political map,” Prof. Loosemore said.

Though the particular focus of the guide is defects in common property such as hallways and courtyards, it also covers all levels of defects and their severity.

While the guide is most useful for current and potential strata apartment owners, renters could also find the guide beneficial for clarifying rights and responsibilities.