This article is about a proposed NSW bill that would introduce several changes to strata laws, including new penalties, limits on developer voting power, shorter management contracts, and easier installation of EV chargers.
Hi guys, it’s Allison Benson from Thoughts from a Strata Lawyer. Today this is a really quick one, an update, flagging some reforms that are on the way.
At the moment we have the Strata Schemes Legislation Amendment (Miscellaneous) Bill 2026 sitting in our Legislative Council. It’s passed through the Legislative Assembly, waiting on its second reading speech.
There are going to be a fair few tweaks to our Strata Schemes Management Act & Community Lands Management Act coming up in that legislation if it does pass.
- First of all there are going to be a lot of penalty provisions.
- There are going to be some changes to the voting entitlements of original owners (aka developers) to reduce their voting rights by two-thirds in schemes where they own lots with over half the unit entitlements.
- There are going to be substantive changes to two-lot schemes and how they make decisions.
- There are going to be big changes in terms of the maximum term of building management contracts, and they’re going to be reduced down from a 10-year time frame to a three-year time frame.
- There are going to be more changes to debt collection procedures for unpaid strata levies and interest, so some more compliance notices / letters to go out there.
- Changes as to when an owner’s corporation can require a lot owner to pay a bond.
- Some changes around cosmetic work, some redefinition of minor renovations to link minor renovations to building elements as defined in the Design and Building Practitioners Act 2020.
- There are going to be big changes in terms of exclusive supply networks, called embedded networks by most of us colloquially, and they’ll prevent the provider of these exclusive supply networks from removing the infrastructure at the end of the contract without the owner’s corporation’s written consent.
- There is going to be a new provision inserted. This is in the proposed Bill. Obviously it has to be passed by the Legislative Council but the Bill is, or has, a proposal to insert a new provision making it much much easier for the installation of electric vehicle charging stations by lot owners. The onus is going to be on the Owners Corporation not to unreasonably object to such an installation.
Some really significant changes are in the wind. Let’s see where we go with the legislation and whether it passes through the Legislative Council. I suspect it will; it’s just going to be a matter of time.
I will have some more details for you when that Bill has actually passed. (This blog was recorded on 28 February 2026 – as at this date the second reading speech session had not been scheduled on the NSW Parliamentary website).
Allison Benson Kerin Benson Lawyers E: allison@kerinbensonlawyers.com.au P: 02 4032 7990
This post appears in Strata News #782.
Have a question or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read next:
- NSW strata law changes explained: what’s changed and how to prepare for 2026
- NAT: Strata management in a changing environment: what’s ahead in 2026
- NSW: Fire Reforms Now 2026-27: New Key Dates and Changes
This article has been republished with permission from the author and first appeared on the Kerin Benson Lawyers website.
Visit our Strata By-Laws and Legislation, Strata Law Reform, Apartment Living Sustainability, Maintenance and Common Property OR NSW Strata Legislation.
Are you not sure about some of the strata terms used in this article? Take a look at our NSW Strata Glossary to help with your understanding.
After a free PDF of this article? Log into your existing LookUpStrata Account to download the printable file. Not a member? Simple – join for free on our Registration page.