Is appointing a compulsory strata manager the solution to committee dysfunction?

NSW

Management & Agreements

What can owners do if elected office bearers refuse to communicate? Can a temporary strata manager be appointed?

After seven months with no elected office bearers, the secretary, treasurer and chair were announced at a strata meeting. The new secretary refuses to respond to any communication from owners, including legitimate questions. The next step is mediation, but owners are concerned that the outcome may be ignored. Our strata manager has also terminated and will complete their term next month. Is appointing a temporary strata manager the solution, and if so, how can this be implemented?

NCAT can appoint a compulsory strata manager, however, it is a "last resort" measure.

To preface the below response, my understanding of the situation as read is that the current strata management company have elected to self-terminate despite there being no strata management company to take over the site.

In accordance with the legislation, the only way to effectively appoint a strata management company is under an appropriately drafted managing agency agreement with the owners corporation, which will need to be approved by way of ordinary resolution at a general meeting.

Notwithstanding this, if the committee/owners corporation, for whatever reason, cannot coordinate their interests and convene a general meeting and/or appoint a strata management company themselves, then (in NSW) a strata manager can be appointed compulsorily by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

However, this is a "last resort" measure used when the owners corporation is dysfunctional, neglects its duties, or breaches Tribunal orders.

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Published: 3 Oct 2023

Last Updated: 7 Jul 2026

This post appears in The NSW Strata Magazine October 2025

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Answer by

Megan Parkins

Tender Advisory

During her tenure as a Licensed Strata Manager, Megan played an integral part of the strata industry since 2017 when commencing with an Industry Leader and was recognised for her dedication in the awarding of the 2019 SCA NSW Rising Star Award and 2020 SCA Australasia Rising Star Award.

Equipped with a Class 2 Strata Management Licence and Certificate 4 in Strata Management, she possesses a strong foundation of knowledge and expertise with respect to the multi-faceted management requirements of Owners Corporations, Building Management Committees, and all forms of Registered Associations, including but not limited to, Asset Management, Trust Account Management, Compliance Management, and complex Meeting Management with internal and external stakeholders.

Through the combination of all aspects of her professional experience, business management skills and passion for achieving success on behalf of her client base, Megan has been drawn to co-founding Tender Advisory to help Owners Corporation’s re-gain their confidence and control over the management of their properties and their trust accounts.