Author: Jonathan O’Connor

Jonathan practices predominantly in property, commercial and employment law, with a focus on litigious matters. Jonathan has acted as counsel and solicitor for clients in proceedings in the Supreme Court, the District Court, the Magistrates Court and the State Administrative Tribunal, including acting as counsel in trials. Jonathan is experienced in acting for strata companies and managers, lot owners, developers and real estate agents in both front-end and back-end legal work. He adopts a commercial, practical and level-headed approach to legal matters. Having previously worked as a strata manager, Jonathan has extensive knowledge of strata titles law and practice. Jonathan was admitted to practice in 2018. He holds a double degree in Law and Business and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice.

Serving notices on owners and occupiers under the Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA) – practical tips for strata managers

Proper service is something which can be overlooked at the time a notice under the Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA) is issued. It tends to become the issue months later, when an owner disputes a levy, resists a by-law enforcement application, or challenges a resolution passed at a general meeting, and the first question asked […]

Shutting down discussions between lot owners at general meetings – a breach of the Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA)?

In Lenane and The Owners of Harbour Pines Strata Plan 23297 [2025] WASAT 53, SAT considered an interesting application in which various lot owners alleged that at an extraordinary general meeting (EGM), the conduct of the strata manager as the chairperson of the EGM and the council of the strata company was a breach of […]

Major structural defects inspections under sale contracts – what do they cover?

A recent case has highlighted something that (almost) every person buying a home in WA should know: ‘Major structural defects’ in the context of a contract for the sale of a residential home in WA may not extend to defects of structures other than the residential building, i.e. the house Many contracts for the sale […]

Conflicts of interest – council members of strata companies in Western Australia

In Western Australia, strata company council members must declare conflicts of interests in writing and refrain from voting on associated matters. Section 137(3) of the Strata Titles Act 1985 (WA) provides that council members: “(a) must inform the council in writing of any direct or indirect pecuniary or other interest that the person has that […]

Recovery of costs in SAT proceedings – hourly rates for self-represented parties?

Content In Godwin v Keet [2025] WASAT 93 (S), the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) awarded costs for a self-represented party’s loss of time in connection with proceedings in which that party was substantively successful. In the case, a strata manager was awarded a nominal rate of $25 per hour for the time he spent in […]