Strata Title in WA: What Apartment Buyers Should Check

You are buying into a scheme

A strata title gives ownership of a defined lot together with rights and responsibilities relating to common property. Every owner is automatically part of the strata company, the body made up of owners that administers the scheme.

Read more than the listing

Review the seller’s compulsory disclosure with the title and strata plan. Ask for recent meeting minutes, budgets, financial statements, insurance, by-laws, maintenance planning and details of defects, litigation, major repairs or proposed special levies.

Five issues that change the real cost

• Regular levies and whether they adequately fund maintenance
• Special levies for major work or shortfalls
• By-laws affecting pets, parking, renovations and short stays
• Unit entitlement and its effect on voting or expenses
• Common-property defects not covered by an apartment inspection

Before signing

Have the contract, title, strata plan and disclosure package reviewed before the offer becomes unconditional. Confirm the legal boundaries of the apartment, car bay, balcony and storage areas. Obtain prompt advice if records disclose defects, disputes or major expenditure.