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.

This week’s podcast episode is a little different. It’s just me, opening up about what I’ve been noticing in our strata space, and in my own life and business. I’m sharing the personal choices I’ve made to protect my health, my relationships, and my time, while still running a thriving business I love. If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or wondered if there’s a better way forward, I think this episode will resonate with you. And if you’re ready to go deeper, join my free online training this Thursday, 4 September. Your access to that is in this episode. ( This episode was recorded prior to yesterday’s SCA(NSW) announcement about banning insurance commissions. Yes, the timing is uncanny. As I say in the podcast: it’s just the universe, doing what it does best )

Reena Van Aalst and I are back on the couch – this time live from the Gold Coast. From a committee asking owners to ignore the Design & Building Practitioners Act, to the insurance claim settled for over $300K, we’re diving into the week’s biggest challenges.

Registered design practitioner Scott Pearse joins me to explain how “$2,000 pieces of paper” are creating a barrier for those wanting to add value to their apartment with a renovation. Plus, why it’s less about the build and more about the politics. If you’re planning a reno in strata, this episode is your reality check.

Reena Van Aalst and I are trading our real-life strata challenges: • Can non-owners attend committee meetings? • Why hybrid loans might surprise your building • Confusion over the $31 inspection fee (GST included?) • An important NCAT win for one of our members – all about rats!

Think you’ve got a month to pay your levies before it matters? Think again. I’m unpacking exactly what “unfinancial” means under the NSW strata law and busting some common myths along the way. Owners – tune in for practical tips to help you stay in good standing, and Managers – these are the technicalities you MUST be across.

I’m covering the legal and practical realities of turning your unused car space into a side hustle. With some owners apparently pocketing up to $850 a month, it’s tempting, but are you risking by-law breaches, insurance issues, or tribunal action? I share some landmark court cases, plus the essential inclusions in any lease agreement.

Reena Van Aalst joins me in a rare in-person chat covering: The real cost of under-resourced strata management Some of the big-ticket items in NSW’s latest strata reforms The empowered owner who chose to sell – finding freedom on the other side of the fight A group of owners launching a bold (and misguided) challenge to a compulsory appointment. An important note: when discussing the NSW law reform, you’ll hear me mention the new, mandatory general meeting motion dealing with “environmental sustainability”. To be clear, this motion is mandatory for all annual general meeting (AGM) agendas from 1 July.

I’m walking you through 5 situations where taking your strata dispute to the Tribunal isn’t just reasonable—it’s necessary. These are real cases, with real lessons, helping you understand when it’s time to stop negotiating and take action.

I’m sharing 5 hard truths I’ve learned as a strata lawyer – truths that might just change your mind about commencing legal proceedings (whether that’s in NCAT, or the equivalent in your jurisdiction).

In this week’s podcast episode, I’m joined by Luke Woollard of PILOT Body Corporate, who’s on a mission to shake up the strata industry. From ditching insurance commissions to rethinking the role of strata managers, Luke shares his bold vision for a better, fairer future for strata owners.

When an owner installs a DIY pipe down the side of a building and hacks through a locked tap with a power tool, what can the committee actually do? Reena Van Aalst and I discuss this one. Plus, an owner who fought for over a decade to get justice for his leaking, uninhabitable home is finally ready to relax.

This week, I sit down with Thom Richards, founder of Cohabit, a platform that scores and benchmarks strata buildings using real data. We’re talking about how this tech is bringing much-needed clarity to owners, buyers, and managers alike.

Strata owners across the country are calling for better training, and in NSW, it’s about to become mandatory for strata committee members. In this week’s episode, I take a deep dive into my newly released Special Report: The Strata Committee Crisis – Why NSW Apartment Communities Need Smarter Support. I break down the key findings, what they mean for you, and where we go from here.

Strata managers have weathered a tough 12-months, with intense media scrutiny and major law reform. In this week’s podcast, current SCA (NSW) President Robert Anderson joins me to explain the steps SCA is taking to restore trust, support members through the reform process, and tackle misconceptions. From overhauling complaints processes to rolling out mandatory audits and a new Code of Ethics, Robert shares what’s happening behind the scenes — and what’s next for the future of strata.

This week, I sit down with Reena Van Aalst, who explains how she’s managing a $50K insurance excess on water ingress claims. I share a $700K insurance claim that turned from a denial into a payout, and we discuss whether or not committee members should be allowed to approve repairs at their own lots.

What if a balcony waterproofing job that used to cost $55k could soon cost over $200k? Helen Kowal and Deborah Lockart join me this week, unpacking the impact of proposed 2025 updates to the National Construction Code. They’re sounding the alarm for strata owners and asking the government to take action before it’s too late. This is a must-listen for strata owners, managers, and anyone planning building repairs.

One of the hottest discussion topics at our Mudgee CPD Event two weeks ago was strata manager gifts and benefits: is it now illegal for strata managers to accept free tickets to events? What if a strata friend wants to buy you lunch? And who came up with the $60 rule anyway? All this and more in today’s episode.

Nick Hedges of ResolveHR joins me to explain how the new “right to disconnect” laws apply to strata managers, including why management companies should be revisiting their policies on after-hours communications now.

Tracy Longo of Homes for Homes joins me to reveal the tiny step property owners can take today to ensure more secure housing for vulnerable Australians.

Reena Van Aalst joins me this week, giving us an insight into the low morale and general sense of despair currently being experienced by our strata managers. We’re also discussing best practice when significant funds need to be raised urgently, why “you aren’t paying for perfection”, and my prediction that the rise of payment plans simply means more business for strata loan providers.

New strata legislation has been made in NSW, expected to commence in mid-2025. This is the most significant strata reform since our 2015 Act. In this podcast episode, I’m highlighting 5 last-minute changes that were made to the Bill, which will have significant impacts on owners, committees, and managers. Make sure you didn’t miss them.

Reena Van Aalst joins me to discuss: why strata managers should be charging for the work they do to keep committee members organised, whether insurers are entitled to request minutes of meetings, the role of WHS in residential buildings, and the insurance commission loophole in NSW’s new strata manager disclosure laws. Links mentioned: Get the…

I’m sharing a few fun, fascinating, frightening (!) facts from my recent time spent at the U.S. Community Association Law Seminar in Texas.

Our audience didn’t hold back during last Friday’s LIVE session over on Facebook, sharing their views on exactly who they think is responsible when communication breaks down in strata. This week, we bring that chat to you here on the podcast.

Reena Van Aalst and I ask: what’s being done to address the abysmal way some strata managers are treated by their clients? We also share a smart idea for more successfully managing buildings under a compulsory appointment, and celebrate a self-represented owner’s Tribunal win.

Chris Miller joins me to explain how strata managers can tap into the “collective buying power” of strata buildings to help improve their own bottom lines – especially as they stare down the barrel of a future without insurance commissions. If this sounds a little like strata managers may not have learned from the mistakes of the past…that was my first thought too. Tune in and hear what Chris has to say.

In our first podcast episode for the year, I’m sharing the 5 most popular episodes of 2024 – in case you missed them, need a recap, or are looking for a great place to start if you’re new to the podcast.

In our final episode for 2024, Reena Van Aalst is pulling back the curtain on poor building management practices and asking the question: why aren’t building managers held to the same standard as strata managers? We also debate section 55 in the NSW strata legislation. What does it mean and is anyone complying with it?

More than seven years on from the Grenfell Tower tragedy, residential apartment buildings around the world are still investigating whether or not their combustible cladding needs to be removed. Fire engineer Ben Hughes-Brown joins me to explain some of the novel solutions buildings are implementing to retain their cladding while still meeting safety and compliance standards, reassuring local councils and insurers and saving significant costs for owners.

Paul Keating of Strata Community Insurance joins me, sharing: – why smart strata committees should “lock-in” their strata managers, – how the ABC’s reporting has changed the way SCI is doing business, – why he’d love to see 3-year insurance contracts, and more.