Strata reform still on the backburner in WA 

The property industry in WA is growing increasingly impatient with continuing days from the State Government on the reform of the state’s antiquated strata title laws.

After more than five years of consultation and promises it now appears that the reforms will have to wait until next year. Last month the Minister for Lands Terry Redman announced that the reforms are unlikely to make the 2016 Parliamentary priorities.

Over 40 per cent of all new homes and many businesses in Western Australia are located in strata titled properties. However the current strata laws were not designed for this level of strata activity, a situation that has resulted in complex systems and procedures for everyone involved in strata, including home buyers, property managers, investors and developers.

“After more than five years of consultation and promises it is disappointing that we still are still no closer to achieving strata reforms in WA in the near future,” says Property Council WA executive director Lino Iacomella.

“It is crucial that the state’s property laws keep up with the growing popularity of strata titles in WA. Key reforms that we are waiting for include:

• Community titles and staged strata developments to create better places to live and work
• Leasehold strata to enable groups like universities and church groups to do strata development;
• Improvements to management of strata schemes and easier ways to settled strata disputes
• Better buyer information.

“Unfortunately the lack of strata reforms will impact the anticipated wave of activity centre development in Perth and the regions. Some developments will go ahead but they will miss out on the innovations that would be possible with reforms like community titles, and other developments will be delayed until the reforms are introduced.

“Meanwhile, strata buyers and strata managers will have to continue to struggle with out-dated systems” says Iacomella.