Reliable Strata Management Agreement Lawyers Sydney, NSW

PBL Law Group is NSW’s leading strata law firm for drafting, negotiating & disputing strata management agreements.

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Who Our Strata Management Agreement Lawyers Help

Existing Owners Corporations

We review & update agreements; negotiate new terms with managers; & represent you in management disputes & more...

New Owners Corporations

We draft initial management & caretaker agreements; advise on manager appointments; & ensure long-term compliance & more...

Property Developers & Builders

We advise on initial manager appointments; ensure compliance with term restrictions; & draft compliant initial agreements & more...

Strata Managers

We review proposed agreements; advise on your contractual obligations; & negotiate fair & compliant terms on your behalf & more...

Strata Lot Owners & Home Owners

We provide advice on management agreement terms; help you understand manager duties; & support you in disputes & more...

Real 5-Star Client Reviews

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Our 4-Step Process for Your Management Agreement

1

Scoping & Strategy

We consult with your committee to understand your scheme’s unique needs, review any existing agreements & define your key objectives.

2

Drafting & Review

Our strata lawyers draft a new, compliant agreement or meticulously review a proposed contract, identifying risks & opportunities for improvement.

3

Negotiation & Finalisation

We manage all negotiations on your behalf to secure favourable terms, then prepare the final agreement for execution by all parties.

4

Implementation & Guidance

We guide your committee through the proper signing & commencement of the agreement & provide ongoing advice on its management.

Alex Ilkin with NSW Strata and Community Schemes Management and Strata Legislation Book

Get Your Agreement Drafted by the Authors of Strata Law

Your strata management agreement is a long-term contract that defines the most important relationship in your scheme. Getting it right is crucial. Our team includes industry-defining experts like Raea Khan & Alex Ilkin, the published author of textbooks including “Strata Legislation Handbook NSW” (often called the “Strata Bible”) and “NSW Strata and Community Schemes Management and the Law“. 

This foundational knowledge of strata law provides our lawyers with unparalleled insight into creating fair, compliant & effective management agreements. We leverage this unique expertise to ensure your contract is robust, protects your interests & gives your scheme a clear strategic advantage.


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Why Choose Our Strata Lawyers for your Appeal?

1

Clear Communication

We provide clear, plain-English advice on your management agreement. You’ll have direct access to your senior lawyer for regular updates.

2

Watertight Agreements

Our lawyers draft & review agreements with meticulous detail, ensuring fair terms, clear duties & full compliance with NSW strata law to protect your scheme.

3

Expert Negotiation Power

We are seasoned negotiators with a strong record of securing favourable terms, fair fee structures & clear performance metrics (KPIs) for our clients.

4

Proven Dispute Resolution

When the relationship fails, our strata litigation lawyers have a formidable record of success resolving management disputes in NCAT & court.

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Meet Our Strata Lawyers

Is Your Strata Contract a Financial Drain?

A strata management agreement should protect your scheme, not expose it to risk. Unfair terms, vague performance metrics (KPIs), or non-compliance with NSW’s strict term limits can lock your OC into a costly, underperforming contract that is difficult to terminate.

Delaying a specialist legal review is a major liability. Our strata management agreement lawyers audit your existing contract to identify these hidden risks, ensuring your agreement is a watertight asset that serves your scheme’s best interests.

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Navigating NSW's Strict Management Agreement Laws

Strata management agreements in NSW are governed by complex laws, including strict limits on contract terms. For example, agreements for new schemes are limited to 12 months, while existing schemes have a 3-year cap, with specific rules for extensions.

Failing to comply with these appointment processes or term limits can render your agreement invalid. Our strata management agreement lawyers provide expert advice on these critical rules, ensuring your contract is fully compliant & legally enforceable from the start.

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NSW Strata Building Management FAQs

A strata building management agreement in NSW is a formal contract between an owners corporation and an appointed strata manager or building manager, outlining the specific management services to be provided for the strata scheme. This agreement details the duties, fees, and duration of the appointment, governed by NSW strata laws such as the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW). It ensures clarity regarding the responsibilities for the building management of the common property.

A strata management agreement is crucial for a strata scheme because it clearly defines the responsibilities and scope of work for the appointed strata managing agent or building manager, ensuring the efficient operation and administration of the property. This legally binding document helps prevent disputes by setting clear expectations for management services and performance standards. Ultimately, a well-drafted agreement protects the interests of the owners corporation, the strata committee, and all lot owners.

New NSW strata laws, particularly the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), have significantly impacted strata management agreements by introducing stricter regulations, most notably regarding the term of appointment for a strata manager. These laws limit the initial appointment term made at or after the first AGM to 12 months and subsequent terms to a maximum of three years. Additionally, the new strata laws place restrictions on developer appointments and clarify the strata committee’s power to extend an existing agreement temporarily.

Under the current NSW strata laws, the maximum term for which a strata manager can be appointed initially, following the first AGM, is limited to 12 months. After this initial term, if the owners corporation decides to reappoint the strata managing agent, any subsequent agreement term cannot exceed a maximum period of three years. These term limits ensure regular review of the strata management arrangement by the owners corporation.

Yes, a developer can appoint the initial strata manager for a new strata scheme in NSW, however, this appointment automatically concludes at the end of the scheme’s first AGM, requiring the owners corporation to formally appoint a manager thereafter. Furthermore, NSW strata laws impose a significant restriction preventing a developer, or any person connected with the developer, from being appointed as the strata managing agent for that scheme until 10 years have passed after the registration of the strata plan. This ensures greater independence for the new strata scheme.

If a strata management agreement reaches its expiry date and is not formally renewed or extended, the owners corporation will be left without an appointed strata managing agent to perform delegated management services. Consequently, the responsibility for managing the strata scheme reverts entirely to the owners corporation and its strata committee. The owners corporation must then promptly decide at a general meeting whether to reappoint the agent, appoint a new strata manager, or undertake self-management to ensure continuity.

Yes, a strata committee in NSW is permitted to extend the appointment of an existing strata manager under specific conditions defined by strata laws. The committee can extend the period of appointment for successive periods, each up to a maximum of three months. However, the total duration of these extensions cannot go beyond the date of the next scheduled AGM, allowing the owners corporation time to make a formal decision at a general meeting.

Lot owners reviewing a building management agreement or strata management agreement should focus on ensuring there are clear definitions of the strata manager’s duties, the scope of management services provided, the associated fees, and the agreement’s duration, including the term of appointment and expiry date. It is important to verify that the terms are fair, transparent, and compliant with current NSW strata laws to protect the interests of the strata scheme. Seeking independent legal advice is advisable if any clauses are unclear or seem unreasonable.

PBL Law Group offers comprehensive legal assistance to owners corporations and strata committees regarding strata building management agreements, including drafting new agreements, reviewing existing ones, and negotiating favourable terms to ensure compliance with NSW strata laws. Our expert Strata Building management lawyers in Sydney provide clear legal advice throughout the process to appoint a new building manager or strata manager, ensuring your strata scheme’s interests are protected. We can also assist in resolving disputes related to the management agreement or the performance of the strata managing agent.

Visit Our Sydney Strata Lawyers

We provide expert strata law advice to clients across NSW. Meet with our team at our central Sydney CBD office, or at our regional offices in GosfordGorokan & Coffs Harbour.

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