This article announces the Allan Labor Government’s review of Victoria’s Owners Corporations Act by an independent expert panel, focusing on issues like financial hardship, voting, unethical management conduct, collective property sales, and short-stay accommodation.
The Allan Labor Government is making sure Victorians are protected and treated fairly – with owners corporation laws set to be reviewed.
Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos today announced an independent expert panel would review the Owners Corporations Act – to ensure it is working fairly and efficiently, and in the interests of lot owners and residents in strata developments.
“Significant reforms were made to laws in 2021 to better reflect the needs of Victorians living in apartments and other owners corporations properties – this expert panel will ensure those reforms are strengthened and improved even further,” said Minister for Consumer Affairs Nick Staikos.
One in four Victorians live in developments that are overseen by an owners corporation. This number is expected to increase significantly in coming years.
The expert panel will examine stakeholder concerns related to owners corporations, including hardship arrangements where a lot owner is having trouble paying fees, as well as voting requirements among lot owners.
The review will examine unethical owners corporations management conduct, including dishonest business practices, unfair contracts, conflicts of interest, and inappropriate commissions or ‘kickbacks’.
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Issues around the collective sale of owners corporations will also be considered. Currently, common property owned by an owners corporation can only be sold if all lot owners agree. The review will examine whether this threshold is appropriate.
The review will also look at whether amendments made in 2019 to the Act – to help manage bad behaviour in short-stay accommodation – are working effectively.
The expert panel will consult the Victorian community, including those living in owners corporations, and other stakeholders to inform its report. Consultation will occur through Engage Victoria and start later this year. The panel will also consider other methods for the community to engage with the review.
The Chairperson of the expert panel is Marsha Thomson, a former Minister for Consumer Affairs between 1999 and 2002, and 2005 to 2006. The other two members of the expert panel will be announced in due course.
The panel will provide a report to the Minister for Consumer Affairs by December 2025.
Premier of Victoria, Hon Jacinta Allan MP
This post appears in Strata News #748.
Have a question or something to add to the article? Leave a comment below.
Read Next:
- VIC: New Five Tiered System for Owners Corporations
- VIC: The AGM Agenda, Committee Meetings and Minutes
This article has been republished with permission from the author and first appeared on the Premier of Victoria website.
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Will LookUp Strata be making submissions to the Victorian review regarding unfair clauses in standard SCA contracts?
Hi Josephine
Thank you for your question.
At LookUpStrata, we maintain a neutral stance and do not engage in direct advocacy or make submissions to government reviews. Our primary purpose is to empower strata owners, residents, and stakeholders by providing access to reliable, up-to-date information and expert insights.
We believe informed communities are best placed to decide what they support and how they engage with the legislative process. Through our platform, we aim to equip you with the knowledge and resources needed to participate meaningfully in discussions and reforms that impact strata living.
Very concerning Victoria Govt looking at – Owners Corporation a licence to make money.
No qualifications required, Consumer Affairs lines busy, VCAT takes years.
Recent changes by Victoria Government give more right to tenants, Housing Victoria buy properties leave vacant for months, HV make alterations to common property without approval of Owners Corp, refuse to answer mail, delay paying fees its a mess!
As I said OCM is licence to make money need no qualifications!
How will the expert panel engage with owners? The SCA which claims to represent owners?
My pet peeve has always been that a renter who is old enough to sign a lease cannot do their own fire alarm test and it costs $100 or more every year for “somebody” with qualifications to do this.
They could also look at the time blowout in getting to VCAT.