News Corp Australia
First published 30 Apr 2025, 12:00am
Around 1.2 million Queenslanders live in buildings with registered strata schemes in place.
A strata firm overseeing around 30,000 apartments has warned of a key failing across buildings that sparks ‘heated arguments’, ‘passive aggressive notes’ and ‘feuds’ spilling into social media.
Around 1.2 million people live among Queensland’s 52,886 registered strata schemes, making up about 14 per cent of the state’s population, according to Archers the Strata Professionals, but chief executive Nicky Lonergan warned many don’t know how decisions are made in their building or how to get involved until it’s too late.
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“People often don’t realise the power their body corporate committee has until they come up against a rule they don’t agree with. By that stage, they may already be facing legal costs, fines, or disputes that could have been avoided.”
According to the firm, those power games could make or break apartment and townhouse living for some, turning into an expensive and psychologically debilitating experience for those who don’t know how to navigate the all-powerful committee system.
“From disputes over parking, to renovations and pets, it’s a big problem if you don’t know how to convince your community they should support your cause. We’ve all seen it — heated arguments at annual meetings, passive-aggressive notes left in the lobby, and neighbourhood feuds that spill over into social media.”
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Archers the Strata Professionals managing director Nicky Lonergan.
The firm, which is rolling out free information sessions across major Queensland cities starting with 6pm Wednesday night at the Broncos Leagues Club, hopes to see more strata owners better understand their rights and responsibilities,
“We see cases where residents assume they can renovate their unit however they like, only to be told they have to rip out brand-new flooring or return balconies to their original state because they didn’t get approval,” Mrs Lonergan said.
“Likewise, many strata property owners don’t realise that if their body corporate is poorly managed, they could be left footing the bill for unexpected or special levies, maintenance blowouts, or even legal disputes.”
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Every residential tower has rules that all owners should be acutely aware of in order to prevent arguments and feuds. Picture: Steve Pohlner
Archers partner Wayne Hewitt, Jason Carlson partner at Chambers Russell Lawyers and Todd Garsden partner at Mahoneys Lawyers and Advisors will discuss how committee membership begins and ends – “from routine transitions such as owners selling their property to more contentious removals over code of conduct breaches or misconduct”.
Up for discussion is also by-law enforcement and dispute resolution, what happens when a breach is reported, formal notices, and how cases escalate through the Commissioner’s Office and the courts.
“If you’re on a committee, it’s important to understand the responsibilities that come with it, and if you’re an owner, you should know how these decisions are being made on your behalf,” Mrs Lonergan said.
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