With the establishment of the NSW Strata Hub online portal managed by NSW Fair Trading, Strata Choice completed its client reporting obligations on 31st December 2022 as set out in the Strata Schemes Management Amendment (Information) Regulation 2021 (Information Regulation). Schemes that have not undertaken the process must comply by 30th June 2023.
Objective
The Strata Hub is the state government’s centralised information access point that will make it easier for buyers and owners in residential strata buildings to get the information they need. It allows Fair Trading to better monitor the state’s 83,000+ strata buildings’ ongoing maintenance and defect management to ensure statutory duties are upheld and safety and amenity are preserved. The aim is that owners and buyers within NSW strata schemes become aware that maintenance and effective management of a scheme is a priority.
The reporting obligation required strata schemes to provide essential information about their scheme on a publicly accessible portal. Owners corporations will need to update this information on an annual basis now.
What information is in Strata Hub
As required under the Information Regulation, Owners Corporations must provide details about their scheme. These include the number of storeys, how the building is used, insurance replacement value, financial information, fire safety, NABERS ratings (if available) and the final occupation certificate date (if available). In addition to the contact information of the chairperson, secretary, strata manager (if retained), and building manager (if present), you need an emergency contact for NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, or Fire and Rescue NSW. Keep in mind that this information will only be accessible by these services.
Privacy concerns
The NSW Government is bound by the Privacy and Personal Information Protection Act 1998 (NSW). Fair Trading has confirmed previously that the nominated email address for the roles of the secretary and chairperson are provided to owners corporation members, and residents in the scheme. Contact phone numbers of these nominated persons must still be reported but will not be disclosed. Before being granted access to the Strata Hub, individuals requesting the information for their scheme must complete a proof of identity check and a privacy declaration.
Fees
To help cover the cost of administration and enforcement of the scheme, there is a payment of a lodgement fee of $3 per lot (GST exclusive) with the annual report (this fee also includes parking and other utility lots if they are deemed to be separate lots for levy contributions). These fees will become an ongoing expense for strata schemes and must be factored into the compliance costs within the annual budget.
Obligations
Strata Choice has implemented its process to update the scheme’s detail after each Annual General Meeting after 30th June 2023.
Financial penalties may apply to strata schemes that still need to meet their Strata Hub reporting obligations. The NSW Government has indicated that these will be actively imposed after 30 June 2023.
The Strata Hub is an important resource that allows the NSW Government to better monitor strata buildings’ ongoing maintenance and defect management. It also provides owners corporations with a secure platform for providing essential information about their scheme annually. If you need help getting your obligations up to date, contact us today!
Disclaimer: The articles and comments in this publication are necessarily brief and general in nature and are not intended to be relied upon by any reader in dealing with a particular problem. Whilst all care has been taken in the preparation of this publication, the writer and the producers accept no liability for any omission or misguidance.