With new eco-friendly technology hitting the market every day, strata schemes in Australia are racing to future-proof their buildings. That’s just one of the trends facing the Australian strata community, so let’s look at some of the other trends that Owners Corporations should know about.
Who is choosing strata living?
According to census figures released by the University of NSW, strata living (and apartment living in general) has increased drastically. In 2016, only 10% of Australians lived in apartments, but that has risen to 13%.
In terms of strata living, NSW leads the pack here with 83,998 strata schemes in the state. This accounts for 961,544 lots and also means strata is the living style of choice for 15% of NSW residents.
31% of those NSW strata residents are single people, followed by couples, families and single-parent families.
With this rise in strata living across the state, it’s clear that strata is more popular than ever.
Building better apartments
In NSW, the government has released a policy called ‘State Environmental Planning Policy No. 65 – Design Quality of Residential Apartment Development (SEPP65)’. This document outlines the design principles that should underpin all new apartment buildings, including:
- Residential flats and apartments
- Mixed-use developments
- Strata buildings
- Shop top housing
- The redevelopment or significant refurbishment of existing buildings
The principles take into account context and neighbourhood character, built form and scale, density, sustainability, landscape, amenity, safety, housing diversity and social interaction, and aesthetics. Importantly, new developments must also comply with BASIX (the building sustainability index).
The new policy means that new buildings must adhere to minimum apartment and room sizes, car park regulations, and ventilation requirements and also ensure 70% of apartments receive a minimum of 3 hours of sunlight during the day.
Sustainability upgrades
Prioritising environmentally conscious strata upgrades is at the top of everyone’s agenda in the modern world. As state and federal governments work to reduce carbon emissions, the strata community has a big role to play. New laws in NSW allow Owners Corporations to implement sustainability upgrades with a 50% majority vote at a General Meeting, rather than the 75% required for other motions. As a result, sustainability upgrades make up a big part of the modern strata trends.
Sustainability upgrades can include:
- Solar energy
- Energy-efficient lighting
- Electric vehicle charging stations
- Water-efficiency systems
If you’re interested in learning more about the types of sustainability upgrades you could consider, contact More Than Strata today.
Strata Hub reporting and the need for strata management
NSW requires all strata schemes to complete Strata Hub reporting every year. This helps keep all of your important information in one place and updates you on key strata news and trends. However, the reporting is time-consuming and requires solid administrative knowledge. This is just one of the reasons strata schemes are turning to professional strata management. Not only do companies like More Than Strata take care of annual Strata Hub reporting, but they also look after the daily running of your scheme.
Need strata management to future-proof your building?
We’d love to hear from you if you want to stay on top of all the latest strata trends, innovations and requirements. More Than Strata helps Owners Corporations manage their schemes more effectively, improving the lives of all residents. If you’d like to ease your strata committee’s burden, contact our team today for the right advice and support every single time.
