ACT strata inquiry: 33 recommendations released
A year-long Legislative Assembly inquiry has set out the most significant proposed reforms the territory's strata sector has seen - including mandatory licensing, mandatory training, and a Strata Commissioner by July 2026.
The ACT Legislative Assembly's strata inquiry has now delivered its final report. This briefing summarises the 33 recommendations and Vantage Strata's response, originally published in The Canberra Times on 1 May.
The ACT Legislative Assembly has released the final report of its year-long inquiry into the territory's strata industry, setting out 33 recommendations for reform.
Tabled on Wednesday 29 April, the report proposes the most significant changes the ACT strata sector has seen - including a mandatory licensing scheme for strata managers, mandatory training for executive committee members, standardised contracts, a no-cause right of termination for strata management agreements, and the establishment of a Strata Commissioner by July 2026.
The inquiry also examined insurance commissions, with the committee recommending stronger disclosure obligations around the commissions strata managers earn from recommending insurers to owners corporations.
What's in the recommendations
The committee's proposals span licensing, training, contracts, governance and dispute resolution. Key recommendations include:
- A mandatory licensing scheme for strata managers
- Mandatory training for both strata managers and executive committee members
- Standardised strata management contracts
- A no-cause right of termination for owners corporations
- Strengthened disclosure obligations around insurance commissions
- Clarification that executive committee members can be remunerated for their time
- Lower quorum requirements for executive committees
- The establishment of a Strata Commissioner for dispute resolution and education
The Strata Commissioner was an election commitment by the ACT Labor government and forms part of its supply and confidence agreements with the ACT Greens and independent Thomas Emerson.
Vantage Strata's response
Speaking to The Canberra Times, Vantage Strata CEO Rupert Cullen welcomed the report, noting it highlighted where the current framework needed to be strengthened.
"The report rightly acknowledges that executive committees are often managing complex, multimillion-dollar assets on a volunteer basis, and that clearer rules, better information and practical protections are essential to make that role sustainable."
As Canberra continues to grow up rather than out, getting strata right isn't a niche issue anymore. It's fundamental to housing affordability, community confidence and the long-term success of apartment living in this city.
Rupert Cullen · CEO, Vantage StrataOn the question of insurance commissions, Mr Cullen said disclosure alone was unlikely to resolve the underlying issues:
"We would have liked the committee go further in clarifying and addressing the role insurance commissions play in the remuneration of strata companies. Without addressing the underlying structures, it's fair to ask how much further transparency or disclosure alone can realistically go for owners."
What happens next
The ACT government will now consider the committee's recommendations. The Strata Commissioner is expected to be established by July 2026.
The full report is available via the ACT Legislative Assembly website.
Three things to know
33 recommendations. The Legislative Assembly's inquiry has delivered the most significant proposed reforms the ACT strata sector has seen, covering licensing, training, contracts and dispute resolution.
A Strata Commissioner by July 2026. The Commissioner will provide an alternative to ACAT for dispute resolution, alongside education for executive committees and owners.
Insurance commissions remain unresolved. The committee recommended stronger disclosure, but Vantage Strata has called for the underlying remuneration structures to be addressed directly.
