These laws were a world-first when they were introduced but they now need an overhaul.
“The last review of the Strata Schemes Management Act was done in 2004.”
Owners in strata schemes want more control of buildings where noisy backpackers and students constantly move in and out.
By-laws should be simplified too to make it easier to renovate ageing apartments, strata experts say.
The peak body representing the strata sector also wants a clearer definition of what is common property so residents have more certainty over ownership.
The Fair Trading Minister, Anthony Roberts, last night announced the state government would review strata laws in NSW, which were a world-first when they were introduced in 1961.
“The laws are outdated and no longer effectively support owners … or address the issues associated with ageing buildings, changing demographics and accountability for annual budgets that can amount to millions of dollars,” he said.
David Ferguson, the president of Strata Community Australia (NSW), said owners wanted more say in how the residential mix was devised.
”This is not about the incorrect selection of tenants but … where you have people with different lifestyles living in the one building and you end up with eight students moving in next door on short-term rentals with different lifestyles to others in the building,” he said.