NSW Strata Specialists

28/08/2026

💙 Proud to Support Vinnies Winter Appeal 💙

Tonight, our daughter Charlotte, is joining students from Carroll College Broulee to take part in the Vinnies Winter Appeal fundraiser, helping raise much-needed funds for people in our community experiencing homelessness and hardship.

We’re incredibly proud to support Charlotte and the other Carroll College students (and teachers!) who are willing to get involved, give their time and do something practical to help others in our community.

If any of our clients, owners, contractors, friends or local community would like to support Charlotte tonight, even a small donation would be very much appreciated. Every contribution adds up and helps Vinnies continue the important work they do for people who need a hand.

The school is aiming to raise $10k for the Vinnies Winter Appeal to support people in our community who are doing it tough this winter. They are very close to their goal and any support is appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who supports Charlotte and the other students taking part tonight. 💙

Carroll Collage fundraising page:
https://vinniescanberra-goulburn.grassrootz.com/vinnies-winter-appeal/carroll-college-winter-sleepout

Charlotte’s fundraising page:
https://vinniescanberra-goulburn.grassrootz.com/vinnies-winter-appeal/charlotte

Good luck tonight, Charlotte! We’re very proud of you. 🥰

Hi, I'm Charlotte and I am raising a goal of $100 for a bigger goal of $10,000 for Carroll College for people struggling with rising living costs and housing pressures, many families are at risk of homelessness this winter. My goal is to support those family in any way possible and show them they ar...

15/06/2026

We love celebrating the achievements and talents within our strata communities, and today we'd like to congratulate one of our strata owners on the publication of their book, *Finding Your Light*.

Written by Monique Schemen-Pipper, *Finding Your Light* is a personal and inspiring journey that encourages readers to embrace hope, resilience, and self-discovery. Whether you're looking for motivation, guidance through life's challenges, or simply an uplifting read, this book may be just what you need.

At NSW Strata Specialists, we believe that strong communities are built not only through well-managed properties, but also by recognising and supporting the incredible people who make up those communities. We're proud to share this achievement and encourage our owners and followers to support local authors and small creators.

You can find *Finding Your Light* here:
[https://www.balboapress.com/en-au/bookstore/bookdetails/756359-finding-your-light](https://www.balboapress.com/en-au/bookstore/bookdetails/756359-finding-your-light)

Congratulations, Monique, on this wonderful accomplishment. We wish you every success with your book journey.



Finding Your Light by Monique Schemen-Pipper is available through Balboa Press. ([balboapress.com][1])

https://www.balboapress.com/en/bookstore?utm_source=chatgpt.com

28/05/2026

One issue quietly becoming a much bigger problem in strata is electric bike and lithium battery charging inside apartment buildings.

NSW Fire and Rescue has reported a growing number of serious fires linked to lithium-ion batteries, particularly involving:

- e-bikes
- e-scooters
- modified chargers
- damaged batteries
- charging inside hallways or near exits

A lot of strata schemes are now reviewing:

- where charging is permitted
- storage of batteries on common property
- fire safety obligations
- smoke detection requirements
- by-laws relating to hazardous activities

This is likely to become a far bigger issue over the next few years as battery-powered transport becomes more common in higher density living.

Importantly, many owners do not realise that:

- damaged batteries should never be charged
- aftermarket chargers significantly increase risk
- charging near exits can create evacuation hazards
- some insurers are already paying closer attention to battery-related incidents

Useful guidance from Fire and Rescue NSW below:

https://www.fire.nsw.gov.au/fire-safety/home-fire-safety/topics/shop-charge-and-recycle-safely

In NSW, portable lithium-ion batteries have become a leading fire hazard, posing serious risks in homes, workplaces, and waste facilities.

04/03/2026

🚪 Office Closed This Morning

The team at NSW Strata Specialists are out of the office this morning for training.

Yes… apparently even strata managers have to go back to school occasionally. Who knew? 📚

We’re brushing up on legislation, compliance and all the exciting things that make strata the thrilling industry it is (don’t worry, we’ll try to contain our excitement).

The office will reopen this afternoon once we return slightly smarter and significantly more caffeinated.

If something urgent pops up, flick us an text and we will and we’ll get onto it as soon as we can.

Thanks for your patience while the team takes a moment to sharpen the pencils. ☕

– NSW Strata Specialists

27/01/2026

WHO HAS PRIORITY IN STRATA LIVING?
Owners, Tenants or Short-Term Rental (STRA) Guests

Brought to you by NSW Strata Specialists

In NSW strata schemes, disputes often arise because someone assumes they have more rights than others. Owners may believe they outrank tenants. Tenants may feel short-term rental (STRA) guests shouldn’t be there. Guests often feel targeted.

The law is clear:
👉 No one has priority simply because of who they are.

In NSW, rights and responsibilities in strata are governed by the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016, and the scheme’s registered by-laws — not personal opinion.

Equal Right to Quiet Enjoyment (NSW Law)

Section 153 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 provides that an owner, occupier or tenant must not use or enjoy a lot or common property in a way that causes a nuisance or hazard or interferes unreasonably with another person’s use or enjoyment.

This protection applies equally to:
🏡owners
🏡tenants
🏡lawful occupants
🏡STRA guests

👉Ownership does not give authority to supervise, confront or control others on common property.

Tenants & STRA Guests Are Lawful Occupants

Under NSW law:

tenants occupy with the consent of the owner

STRA guests occupy with the consent of the owner

both are lawful occupants

👉If a person is lawfully occupying a lot, they are entitled to use common property in accordance with the by-laws.

There is no section of the Act that creates a hierarchy of:

owner > tenant > guest

🙅That hierarchy simply does not exist.🙅

👮‍♀️By-Laws Apply to Everyone (No Exceptions)👮‍♀️

Section 135 of the Act confirms that by-laws bind:

🏡owners
🏡tenants
🏡mortgagees
🏡occupants
🏡visitors

By-laws must be registered to be enforceable.
Unwritten rules, signage without a supporting by-law, or “what we’ve always done” are not enforceable.

If something is not prohibited by a registered by-law, it is generally permitted.

Enforcement Is a Formal Process — Not Personal Authority

Only the Owners Corporation can enforce by-laws.

The correct NSW process is:

Identify the specific by-law

Identify the alleged breach

Issue a Notice to Comply under section 146

Escalate via mediation or NCAT if required

Confrontation, swearing, intimidation, or statements such as “I own the strata” have no legal standing and can expose individuals — and schemes — to risk.

STRA Guests: Often Scrutinised, Still Protected by Law

STRA guests must comply with by-laws — just like everyone else.
However, they are entitled to:

quiet enjoyment (s153)

lawful use of common property

respectful treatment

If STRA use is restricted, it must be done via:

a properly passed STRA by-law

compliant with NSW planning controls

Not personal enforcement.

The Bottom Line (NSW)

✔ There is no priority based on status
✔ Rights come from law and by-laws
✔ Behaviour matters more than labels
✔ Enforcement follows process, not personality

👀MYTH vs FACT (NSW) 👀

❌MYTH: Owners have more rights
✅FACT: Owners have more obligations, not more authority

❌MYTH: STRA guests can be confronted or removed
✅FACT: Only the Owners Corporation can act — via s146

❌MYTH: If it feels wrong, it must be illegal
✅FACT: If it’s not prohibited by a by-law, it’s lawful

MYTH: Confrontation fixes issues faster
FACT: It usually escalates them and creates liability

23/01/2026

NSW strata legislation changed in 2025 and the reforms affect how many strata schemes operate day to day. These changes impact owners, strata committees and managing agents and are not limited to large or complex buildings.

We have published a summary of the reforms outlining what has changed and what it means in practical terms for strata schemes. The focus is on obligations, governance and decision making rather than legal theory.

If you are an owner or committee member it is important to understand how these reforms apply to your scheme.

2025 has seen one of the most significant waves of strata law reform in recent years in New South Wales. The NSW Government has progressively rolled out amendments under the Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment Act 2025 (NSW) across multiple tranches, delivering greater transparency, accountability,...

04/12/2025

🔌 New Safety Info Now Live on Our Website

We’ve just uploaded a quick guide from South Coast Energy about why timed power points and keyed isolators are becoming essential for charging e-bikes, scooters and other lithium battery devices.

If you’re curious about the why (or you just want to keep your building safer), you can check it out here:
👉 https://www.nswstrataspecialists.com.au/resources

Nice and simple — and definitely worth a read.

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