Select Strata Communities

13/10/2026

We are delighted to welcome a community of 15-residential apartments in Elwood to our strata management portfolio.

Built circa 1960, the property sits within Melbourne’s inner bayside, where mid-century apartment blocks, interwar Art Deco buildings and period homes contribute to Elwood’s distinctive character and relaxed beachside village atmosphere.

Thank you to the Owners Corporation Committee for placing their trust in our team and one of our Team Leaders and Senior Managers, Charmaine Streeter who was instrumental in the relationship. Charmaine and her team look forward to working alongside the Committee to care for the property, support clear communication and decision making, and make day-to-day strata management run smoothly.

Here’s to a great partnership and the next chapter for this Elwood community.

03/10/2026

Today our Director, Peter Black, Maria Arturi, and Helen O'Grady represented our teams at High Life Expo ’26 at Melbourne Town Hall!

With a program covering solar, EV charging, electrification and better apartment living, the expo was a valuable opportunity to explore ideas and practical solutions for Owners Corporations.

Helen O'Grady, one of our superstar SELECT Strata Communities Strata Managers was an invited panel speaker at the event.

Helen was instrumental in the first Owner Corporation solar installation in Victoria under the solar rebate scheme. Along with committee members, she was asked to share her experience and insights from this successful solar installation.

Keeping up with developments in strata is part of our commitment to helping our clients make informed decisions and build thriving communities.

Are you a property developer looking to add long-term value through strategic strata sustainability initiatives, or an existing Owners Corporation seeking to reduce running costs, improve energy efficiency and plan for future upgrades?

Connect with SELECT Strata Communities to explore practical options for your building and budget.

📩 Message our team or visit www.selectsc.com.au to start the conversation.

29/09/2026

Who decides your Owners Corporation levies?

This week's article focusses on Owners Corporation levies and how they actually come into being.

A common misconception is that the Owners Corporation manager decides to increase them. The manager may help prepare the budget, explain rising costs and issue levy notices, but the Owners Corporation determines the fees. Depending on the Owners Corporation, the Committee may be involved in setting them, or lot owners consider the proposed budget and fees at the AGM.

Once the fees are set, each lot’s share is calculated using its units of lot liability. For example, if the OC raises $400,000 and has 1,000 units of lot liability in total, a lot with 25 units pays $10,000 for the year.

So when levies rise, the useful question is: what has changed in the budget? Insurance, maintenance and other building costs may have increased, or the Owners Corporation may need to put more aside for planned works.

At SELECT Strata Communities, our role is to help owners and Committees understand those costs and make informed decisions about funding their buildings. We help lot owners and/or Committees set realistic budgets to avoid the nasty surprise of a special levy when the Owners Corporation runs out of money.

OC levies aren't arbitrary. Learn how lot liability, budgets, and annual AGM approvals determine what you pay each quarter.

24/09/2026

The office of SELECT Strata Communities will be closed this Friday 25th September for the AFL Grand Final public holiday.

If you are an Owners Corporation in our care and need emergency repair assistance to common property over this long weekend, head to our website for more information.

www.selectsc.com.au

14/09/2026

At SELECT Strata Communities, we are always looking for meaningful ways to support our clients.

That’s the idea behind SELECT Connect, our referral pathway to industry professionals we know, trust and are comfortable recommending.

Ray Chamberlain and his team at Chamberlain + Co provide trusted support and guidance across home loans and lending.

Whether you’re thinking about refinancing, purchasing a property, reviewing your current loan or simply wondering whether there may be a better option available, speaking with Ray can be a helpful place to start.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. Just an opportunity to understand where you stand and whether there are options worth exploring.

To arrange your free home loan and lending check, click the link below.

https://selectsc.com.au/select-chamberlain-and-co/

National Mortgage Brokers Chamberlain + Co

14/09/2026

The most expensive problems in commercial strata buildings are almost always preventable.

Underfunded reserves. Compliance failures. Contested lease boundaries. Governance breakdowns. These turn manageable issues into costly crises that disrupt tenants and drain owner equity.

Commercial strata carries different risks than residential because the stakes are higher at every level. A fire safety failure doesn't just inconvenience residents. It shuts down multiple businesses simultaneously. An underfunded reserve means a special levy that might force tenants to relocate.

This week, we have put together a guide covering five significant risk categories that affect commercial buildings across Melbourne, and what proactive management looks like.

Read the full risk guide at: https://selectsc.com.au/blog/common-risks-in-commercial-strata-management/

Commercial strata buildings carry unique financial, compliance and governance risks. Here's how Melbourne OCs can identify and manage them.

10/09/2026

Great hosting the team from Johns Lyng Group Strata Services this week.

Their support plays an important role in the service SELECT Strata Communities provides to our clients, particularly after hours.

Having access to reliable, responsive infrastructure and specialist support allows our teams to maintain an urgent maintenance assistance service when issues on common property simply can’t wait until the next business day.

Strong service delivery is rarely about one organisation working in isolation. It relies on trusted partners, clear communication and teams that understand the importance of responding quickly when our clients need assistance most.

Thanks to the Johns Lyng Strata Services team for the visit, the ongoing collaboration and the critical support you provide behind the scenes.

08/09/2026

3 years with SELECT Strata Communities. Congratulations Colin Milson! 🎉

For the past 3-years, Colin has brought a wealth of experience, calm professionalism and a genuinely people-first approach to strata management.

With nearly 30-years across service, business and management, including extensive project management experience, Colin knows how to navigate complexity.

But what really sets him apart is how he works with people: listening carefully, communicating clearly and following through.

And we think this photo captures Colin rather well. No polished corporate pose. Just Colin. Approachable, down-to-earth and ready for a conversation.

That’s also how his clients know him. One committee member described how Colin’s first step when taking over their property was simply to meet onsite, ask what issues needed attention, and get to work resolving them.

Three years on, we are very glad to have Colin as part of the SELECT team.

Congratulations on the milestone, Colin, and thank you for everything you bring to our clients, committees and community.

We definitely are better together.

07/09/2026

At SELECT Strata Communities, we are always looking for meaningful ways to support our clients.

That’s the idea behind SELECT Connect, our referral pathway to industry professionals we know, trust and are comfortable recommending.

Ray Chamberlain and his team at Chamberlain + Co provide trusted support and guidance across home loans and lending.

Bec Allan is a key member of Ray's team. Whether you’re thinking about refinancing, purchasing a property, reviewing your current loan or simply wondering whether there may be a better option available, speaking with Bec can be a helpful place to start.

There’s no pressure and no obligation. Just an opportunity to understand where you stand and whether there are options worth exploring.

To arrange your free home loan and lending check, click the link below.

https://selectsc.com.au/select-chamberlain-and-co/

07/09/2026

Pets in Melbourne apartment buildings can be a surprisingly complex Owners Corporation issue.

Can an Owners Corporation ban pets? Do you need approval before bringing home a dog or cat? What happens if an animal causes a nuisance on common property? And how do the rules differ for renters?

Our latest article breaks down the current Victorian position, including what the model rules actually say, when an Owners Corporation can take action, and the separate rules that apply to renters seeking permission for a pet.

If you own, rent, manage or sit on a committee in a strata building, it’s worth knowing where the lines really sit.

Read the full article: https://selectsc.com.au/blog/pets-in-strata-what-victorian-oc-rules-say-about-dogs-cats/

Pets in Strata? Here's what the Victorian model rules now say about pets, how to apply for approval, and your rights if refused.