WA Strata Reform in WA
The New Year has started very positively on the advocacy front with a very welcome announcement by the Minister for Lands, Terry Redman that the WA Government will proceed with reforms to the WA’s strata title system in 2016.
Cabinet has given approval for the Parliamentary Counsel’s Office to draft a new Bill to amend Strata Titles Act and the Minister intends to introduce the amended legislation to State Parliament in Spring 2016.
The reforms are aligned with the Property Council’s key priorities and it is very pleasing that we now have confirmation from the Government about the key reforms and that legislation is being prepared.
The key reforms include:
- Introduction of two new types of strata title – Community Title and Leasehold strata schemes over freehold land.
- More flexibility for staged strata development.
- Information given to buyers before they sign a strata purchase contract will be improved and simplified.
- Faster resolution of strata disputes.
- Improvement of regulations of strata managers by imposing key duties and obligations they must perform.
- Termination of strata schemes greater than four lots by at least 75% of owners; termination of schemes less than four lots by majority of owners (other conditions will also apply).
More details about the reforms are available from Landgate.
Source: News Release, Property Council of Australia, 15 December, 2015
http://www.propertycouncil.com.au/Web/Content/News/WA/2016/Member_Alert__Strata_Reform.aspx