Question: Can a strata company keep all records digitally, or do some documents need to be kept in hard copy?
In Western Australia, can a strata company archive all records and documents digitally, or are there specific records that must still be kept in hard copy?
Answer: The legislation specifies what records must be kept and for how long, but it does not prescribe the format in which those records must be stored.
Under the current Western Australian strata framework, including the Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA) and the Strata Titles (General) Regulations 2019, there is no requirement for strata records to be kept in hard-copy form. The legislation specifies what records must be kept and for how long, but it does not prescribe the format in which those records must be stored.
This means strata companies and strata managers may lawfully maintain records in electronic form provided they are complete, secure, backed up, and readily accessible for inspection by owners and other entitled persons. Digital records must also be capable of being reproduced if required (for example, for audits, disputes, or State Administrative Tribunal proceedings).
As a matter of best practice (not legal requirement), some schemes choose to retain original hard copies of high-value or legally significant documents, such as executed contracts, tribunal orders, or registered instruments, in case originals are later requested for evidentiary purposes. However, the strata legislation itself does not mandate the retention of paper originals.
In short, fully digital record-keeping is compliant in WA, so long as statutory retention periods are observed and records remain accessible, accurate, and secure.
This post appears in the April 2026 edition of The WA Strata Magazine.
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