WA: REIWA calls for additional reforms to support WA’s growing strata sector

This article reports on REIWA’s call for further reforms, beyond the current proposed changes to education and experience standards, to support Western Australia’s growing strata sector by incorporating strata managers into the existing real estate licensing regime to improve professionalism, accountability, and consumer protection.

Strata managers play a critical role in maintaining the value, safety and functionality of more than 340,000 properties across WA.

With the state’s population increasing strongly, strata title schemes are expected to grow to support the delivery of more affordable and sustainable community living spaces. This means consistent, high-quality management is becoming more important.

Government reforms are now underway to lift education and experience standards for strata managers. While these are a welcome step, REIWA believes more is needed to ensure strong consumer protection and professional accountability across the sector.

What’s changing?

The proposed reforms to the Strata Titles (General Regulations) 2019 (STGR) aim to expand education qualifications and introduce experience requirements for professional strata managers, as well as create and redefine some roles and responsibilities to better meet industry needs.

The changes include:

• Full Certificate IV to become the standard qualification for people employed by a strata management business to manage strata schemes
• Remove use of specific unit numbers from the Certificate IV
• Remove the definition and concept of a designated person
• Introduce a definition for principal of the business
• Introduce a new role and definition for strata community manager
• Introduce a new role and definition for assistant strata community manager

The new educational requirements will come into effect once the STGR have been amended. This is expected to take place this year and people in the strata management industry will then have two years to comply with the new education model.

To help the industry prepare for the upcoming education requirements, REIWA Training now offers the CPP40521 Certificate IV in Strata Community Management.

REIWA President Suzanne Brown said REIWA Training was the first WA-based Registered Training Organisation to deliver the qualification and will allow those in the strata industry to get ahead of the upcoming changes.

“This course is designed to equip strata managers with the knowledge and skills they need to meet the new education requirements and support well-managed communities,” she said.

The course covers legislative compliance, insurance and trust account management, meetings and governance, and financial reporting. Experienced strata managers may be able to fast-track their qualification through REIWA’s Recognition of Prior Learning framework.

For more information, visit the REIWA members site or contact training@reiwa.com.au.

REIWA’s response to proposed strata reforms

Ms Brown said while the Institute supports these reforms, further action is needed to strengthen the strata sector.

“We propose that strata managers be incorporated into the real estate industry’s existing licensing regime, consistent with the requirements for real estate agents,” she said.

“This would improve professionalism, accountability and consumer protections.

“Currently, many specialist strata firms operate outside the licensing framework, despite performing similar roles and managing substantial funds on behalf of lot owners. Unlike real estate professionals, they are not subject to mandatory trust account audits.

“Licensing would close this gap, enhance financial protections and ensure consistent standards across the industry.

“Licensing strata managers would also require adherence to a statutory code of conduct, completion of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and oversight by DEMIRS.”

Ms Brown said WA’s growing strata sector deserves a clear and consistent framework.

“Education is a crucial step, but licensing is the next one. A licensing framework would also support better long-term planning, helping strata managers use 10-year maintenance plans as proactive asset management tools, rather than just a compliance task.

“This is essential to ensuring strata communities remain well-managed, safe and sustainable.”

REIWA
E: training@reiwa.com.au
P: 9380 8222

This post appears in Strata News #742.

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