Question: New strata managers leave the industry within 12 to 18 months due to poor support. How can strata businesses retain them?
We frequently see new strata managers leave the industry within their first 12 to 18 months because of poor support. What can strata businesses do differently to bridge this leadership gap and increase retention among new entrants to the industry?
Answer: Retaining new strata managers requires a multifaceted approach covering day-to-day support, ongoing training, strong leadership, and mental health support.
It really does require a multifaceted approach. When we talk about support for new strata managers, there are a few key areas businesses need to look at.
Firstly, day-to-day support is critical. What does their assistant or administrative support look like? Do they have the practical structure around them to do the job properly?
Ongoing training is also important, particularly with the pace of legislative change and the increasing complexity of the role.
Managers need access to ongoing training so they can keep up with changes to legislation, the challenges of the role, and continue building capability as they grow into the position.
Leadership is another major factor. Businesses need experienced managers or strong leaders who can guide, mentor and support new entrants as they settle into the industry. Mental health support also cannot be overlooked, given the pressures that can come with the role.
Pleasingly, we are seeing more stability than we were perhaps 12 or 18 months ago. There was a period where people were entering the industry, or moving roles, and sometimes leaving again within six months because they were stepping into environments still in flux.
Many businesses have now worked through that uncertainty and put better systems and structures in place. That is creating a more stable environment, but retention still comes back to support, leadership and setting new managers up properly from the beginning.
This post appears in the June 2026 edition of The NSW Strata Magazine.
Aaron Petrilli W: Property Recruitment Partners E: info@propertyrecruitmentpartners.com.au