Scott Bellerby was applauded at the Property Council WA awards late last year for his leadership in strata management. Find out why he’s on a mission to build a national database for building quality.
“COVID-19 has created the conditions for the strata sector’s two most challenging years on record,” says Bellerby, a national director of the Strata Community Association and managing director of B Strata, which manages around $2.1 billion of strata titled properties in Perth.
Bellerby (pictured) was presented with the Property Council’s Strata Manager of the Year award late last year for his sustained contribution to the property industry. The award recognises his work over five years with Property Council, SCA, Landgate and the WA Government to achieve a balanced and effective review of the state’s Strata Titles Act.
“I’ve worked across the full spectrum of the industry as a commercial valuer, a development manager and an expert in litigation. I’ve been the founding director for both a real estate company and a property advisory and development company and spent some time in asset management, acquisition and sales. No area is as challenging as strata management.”
Why is that? Bellerby says the role of the strata manager is multi-faceted – requiring a head for legislation and finely-tuned people skills. “The biggest challenges we face are educating residents on their responsibilities and dealing with building defects. Finding solutions that manage defects without compounding the costs and delivery of apartments is a huge issue.”
Building quality has captured headlines and headspace for several years now, following high-profile failures. But the issue is widespread. Research published by the University of New South Wales in October found just over half of Sydney’s apartments had at least one type of defect, while more than one in four had at least three different defects. The researchers found “it is virtually impossible for buyers to know whether the apartment they are buying is good quality”.
The NSW Government introduced a new Office of the Building Commissioner in 2019, and tasked commissioner David Chandler with responsibility for improving the quality of construction and stamping out poor building practices. Other states are set to follow suit, but Bellerby notes “there is much more work to do” and suggests the best place to start is with transparency and a national database of building documentation.
“Too often, certificates of compliance, permits, warranties, manuals and detailed as-built plans are not handed over by the builder or developer. There are always problems with new builds, whether they are strata or freehold. But without the right documentation it’s difficult to diagnose and remedy the problem,” he says.
“There are many times when it’s not the builder’s fault. It might be overly ambitious architects or poorly thought through design elements. But without a detailed set of plans, manuals and warranties, it is difficult to know where to start.”
Bellerby suggest the NSW Government’s Building Assurance Solution is a good jumping-off point. This tool will bring together development approvals, product and design certificates and certificates of compliance for each building. It promises to establish a “trustworthy rating” for new builds. Potential purchasers will be able to compare buildings and insurers price their products accordingly.
“Designers and builders will be required to lodge their designs electronically. This will help measure compliance with design and construction standards, and traceability of materials all the way back to the manufacturer.”
Bellerby says this is a positive step in the right direction and suggests practical completion certificates are tied to lodgement in this national, centralised digital library.
“We are dealing with multi-million-dollar assets. We need to lay solid digital foundations for the future.”