New AML Laws Are Here: What Our Clients Need to Know
From today, 1 July 2026, Australian lawyers are regulated under the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006. Here is what that means for you and how your experience working with Bugden Allen will change. A New Era for Law Firms and Property Transactions Australia has long been one of the few developed countries where […]
April 2026 – STRATA INSITE Newsletter
In the April 2026 edition of STRATA INSITE we cover: FEATURED ARTICLES: NSW Strata Commissions Review: What the Productivity Commission’s Final Report Means for the Industry UPDATES AND ARTICLES FROM OUR TEAM NSW: NSW Strata regulatory updates: 5 Key Changes NSW: New training requirement for strata committees NSW: NSW Strata Information Certificates: Key Changes from […]
NSW Strata Commissions Review: What the Productivity Commission’s Final Report Means for the Industry
The NSW Productivity and Equality Commission (PEC) has today released its final report into strata manager commissions and it’s a significant moment for anyone involved in NSW strata management. The report follows a review commissioned by the Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading and signals that real structural change to how strata managers are […]
Remembering Gary Bugden OAM (1947 – 2025)
A pioneer of strata law, a mentor to many, and a true gentleman. A message of thanks On behalf of the Bugden family and everyone at Bugden Allen, we want to express our heartfelt thanks for the many messages of love, support, and remembrance following the passing of Gary Francis Bugden OAM on Monday, 6 October 2025. […]
July 2020 – Strata Regulatory Watch
Content Our 3rd edition of the Strata Regulatory Watch newsletter was sent out in late July. This is where we summarise important case law, regulatory changes and policy updates that may have an impact on Australian strata developments and communities. View the July edition here Subscribe Here
Q&A: Calculating QBCC Home Warranty Insurance – Notional Pricing vs Total Project Cost
Question Question: When addressing balcony waterproofing issues in a six-unit complex, what is the difference in calculating the QBCC Home Warranty Insurance premium based on ‘Notional Pricing’ per unit versus the total project cost? Our complex is a block of six units, two on each level. The waterproofing on the balcony slabs has been compromised, […]
Rule or Be Ruled: Why Your OC Rules Need a Refresh
This article was authored by VIC Solicitor Justine Nguyen and peer-reviewed by Senior Associate Eve Whitmore. Owners corporation (OC) rules play a vital role in the effective governance and harmonious management of residential, retail, commercial and mixed-use developments. Despite this, many OCs continue to operate under outdated, and in some cases, unenforceable rules. Rule-Making Powers Under the OCA […]
Webinar: Proper authority to commence litigation in strata
Content Are you confident your body corporate has the proper authority to commence litigation? Join Queensland Partner and leading strata law expert, Michael Kleinschmidt, as he outlines the key steps to correctly authorise property litigation. This webinar, hosted by Nikki Jovicic from LookUpStrata, was presented live on 1 May 2025. Watch the recording below. In this […]
How do I get approval to install a car stacker in my car space?
Question Question: What is the approval process for an owner to install a car stacker? Does the $3,000 limit also include engineering reports, any required council approval, and updates to the title or Community Management Statement (CMS)? A resident in our building has approval from the body corporate to install a car stacker in one of their […]
Can a Body Corporate Commence Legal Proceedings Without a General Meeting Resolution?
It is a question lawyers get asked all the time: can a body corporate commence legal proceedings without a general meeting resolution? The simple answer is yes, you can, so long as the Committee passes an appropriate resolution which is later ratified by the Body Corporate in a general meeting. But what does it take […]
The Building Legislation Amendment (Buyer Protections) Bill 2025 (Vic): A Step Towards Stronger Consumer Protection in the Building Sector
The Building Legislation Amendment (Buyer Protections) Bill 2025 (Vic) (BLA Bill) is a significant piece of legislation aimed at improving consumer protections in Victoria’s building sector. The BLA Bill introduces a series of reforms designed to strengthen the regulatory framework governing domestic building work, address fragmented responsibilities, and provide better insurance coverage for consumers. It is proposed […]
Developer hit with largest ever fine under Queensland Strata Law
Introduction Introduction On 31 January this year, the highest Court in Queensland upheld the largest ever fine imposed for a breach of the State’s strata law. The developer Corella Rd Dev Pty Ltd was ordered to pay a fine of $125,000 plus $115,000 in costs. The maximum available fine for the second most serious offence under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 was $232,200. Corella’s […]