Are Strata Renters In or Out?

Why does everyone want to pretend that renters in strata apartments have nothing to do with strata corporation issues and operations?  Are they the silent and unseen strata majority that should be seen but not heard?

In a recent column at Flat Chat called You're not the boss of me! questions were asked about the strata manager communicating with renters which has prompted me to make the following important points.

Recent NSW data suggests that about half the strata apartments are tenanted, so 50% of strata residents are renters.  That means that their rent payments are funding half of the strata corporation budgets as well as providing their strata owner landlords with profits.

As strata residents, renters must comply with strata laws about damage to common property and behavioural matters as well as other laws governing neighbour behaviour.  Renters also have rights to get damaged common property repaired, make application for strata orders and participate in strata disputes affecting them.  They can even be elected to strata committees if an owner nominates them.

The only things they can't really do is attend and vote at strata meetings, and they don't have to pay strata levies.

Interestingly, in British Columbia, Canada long term renters (over 2 years) become de-facto strata owners and can vote and participate in strata meetings instead of the owners.

Maybe it's about time we recognised the significance of renters in Strataland?

Francesco ...