Your Strata Property With Amanda Farmer

What actually gets things done in strata? Committee member and tech founder Kareem “KT” Tawansi joins me to share: – Why influence matters more than power on a strata committee – How he helped shift one building from “secret squirrel” to radical transparency – A first look at the AI tool he’s built to take the drama out of strata and more.

Reena Van Aalst joins me this week, as we cover: – Managers proposing their own reappointment at the AGM – can they? – A creative (but unlawful) by-law trying to control who gets on the committee – The NSW District Court case giving clarity for owners who are seeking damages from their owners corporation and more.

This week, I’m interviewing our first Member guest in a new format. Danielle’s story is a must-listen for anyone in a mixed-use building. We cover: • BMCs + Strata Management Statements (and why so many owners have never heard of them) • What happens when retail plant sits on the residential roof • How Danielle’s unwavering commitment to stand up for what’s right achieved real outcomes for the residents in her community, and more.

AS1851 is now being enforced in NSW. Is it going to cost your building a fortune? Not necessarily. This week, I’m joined by Dominic Dodwell of Valen Project Services to unpack: • What fire safety testing is now required • Why expensive upgrades are not necessary • How to get an $85K quote down to $20K and more

Reena Van Aalst is back on the pod for 2026, as we cover: Growing mediation delays, Schedule B fee shock: how a $20k management contract can quietly become $40k, and why you should be asking for an itemised list of charges, A tribunal workaround you may not know exists: two strata managers, one building, and more.

As we kick off 2026 (and celebrate 10 years of the podcast!) I’m counting down the five episodes you listened to the most in 2025. This is a must-listen recap for regulars, and the perfect starting point for new listeners: the conversations that mattered most, all in one recap.

I’m wrapping up 2025 with the 5 strata surprises I didn’t see coming – not the headline stuff, but what I’ve been seeing on the ground with real owners, real committees and real disputes. This episode is an edited replay of Friday’s LIVE chat (so you’ll hear me responding to comments as we go). From the rapid shift on insurance commissions to the underwhelming rise of AI, plus the one issue I cannot believe we’re still fighting about…

In our final episode together for 2025, Reena Van Aalst and I share these strata challenges: • A hoarder tenant causing a building-wide cockroach infestation • Why proxies cannot nominate owners for committee positions • The surprising reform agenda for two-lot schemes and more.

Edwina Feilen of Asset Inspect joins me to explain “pre-loss risk profiling”, underinsurance traps, and what to do about the tobacconist downstairs. This is an essential reminder that strata insurance doesn’t start at claim time – it starts well before the loss.

A source of frustration for many owners, records inspections is one of the subjects I am most frequently asked about. In this encore episode, I’m sharing my 4 steps to a successful strata records inspection, including what to do when particular records are withheld for ‘privacy’ or ‘legal’ reasons.

Reena Van Aalst joins me as we cover: Building managers and missing records: what duties do BMs really have? NSW levy recovery reforms: what’s started, what hasn’t (yet), and the flood of payment plan requests The words every strata manager must be prepared to say to the committee when the expert says “fix it”.

Hiring a strata manager? SCA doesn’t want you just comparing prices. SCA Australasia CEO Alisha Fisher joins me to explain SCA’s new Your Property. Our Priority. campaign, including the single question SCA wants owners to ask to determine what “good” strata management looks like in 2025 and beyond.

Will banning insurance commissions actually save owners money? Actuary and industry reformer John Trowbridge and I dive into the numbers, the conflicts, and the path to a cleaner, clearer, fee-for-service model. Plus, what underwriters, brokers, and strata managers need to change now.

Older buildings often lack modern fire safety protections – and many aren’t even required to submit annual fire safety statements. This week, I’m joined by Marty Hearne and Amelia Causer of Quantum Fire Protection, unpacking the hidden risks in older strata buildings, upcoming changes to Australian Standard 1851, and why voluntary upgrades now can save money (and lives) later.

Reena Van Aalst and I are back with the week’s biggest strata pain points – and the fixes that actually work. From Fair Trading surprise audits to “is this really sustainability?” motions, we share our wins and challenges.

Thinking about solar, batteries or EV charging in your strata building? Now’s the time. In this week’s episode, I sit down with sustainability expert Brent Clark of Wattblock to unpack the rebates, grants, and hacks that can save your building big dollars – including some opportunities to “triple-dip” on funding opportunities.

Cyclone winds don’t just rattle windows – they turn balcony pavers into missiles and push rain straight through walls. Adj. Assoc. Professor Geoff Boughton joins me to share some of the simplest steps strata owners and residents can take to keep water out and people safe during severe weather events.