Levy Recovery
Unpaid levies place a direct financial burden on owners corporations and their compliant members. Prompt, consistent and legally sound levy recovery is essential to maintaining cash flow and the effective operation of a scheme.
Bugden Allen delivers specialist levy recovery services through LevyCollect, our dedicated levy recovery practice and client portal.
Specialist Levy Recovery Experience
Levy recovery is a highly specialised area of strata law. Our LevyCollect team hasover 35 years’ experience in strata debt recovery, supported by deep expertise in strata legislation and Court and Tribunal proceedings.
This combination of specialist recovery knowledge and litigation capability allow us to:
- Act decisively where enforcement is required
- Resolve matters efficiently where early settlement is possible
- Protect the owners corporation’s position at every stage
Our Approach to Levy Recovery
We focus on achieving fast, cost-effective outcomes, with an emphasis on early resolution wherever possible.
Our approach is designed to:
- minimise recovery costs for lot owners
- reduce cash-flow disruption for owners corporations
- escalate matters only when necessary
Where settlement cannot be achieved, we are well placed to progress matters through Tribunal or Court proceedings to enforce recovery.
LevyCollect Portal
All levy recovery matters are managed through the LevyCollect client portal, which streamlines the recovery process and provides transparency for strata managers and committees.
The portal allows clients to:
- view levy recovery matters in real time
- track progress and key milestones
- access, share and download documents
- update matter information
- open new levy recovery matters directly
This technology-enabled approach improves efficiency while giving clients visibility and control over the recovery process.
Who We Act For
We act for:
- owners corporations
- strata and community titles schemes
- strata managers
- bodies corporate across multiple jurisdictions
Our levy recovery services are scalable and suited to both individual matters and high-volume portfolios.
Why Bugden Allen
Clients rely on Bugden Allen and LevyCollect for levy recovery because of our:
- specialist, long-standing experience in strata debt recovery
- strong understanding of strata legislation and enforcement pathways
- ability to run matters through Tribunal and Court when required
- disciplined, technology-supported processes
Our focus is on delivering timely recovery outcomes with minimal disruption to schemes and their members.
To discuss levy recovery or access the LevyCollect portal, contact our levy recovery team.
Levy Recovery — FAQs
Your Questions Answered
What is levy recovery?
Levy recovery is the process of collecting unpaid strata levies owed by lot owners to an owners corporation. Effective levy recovery is essential to maintaining cash flow and funding the ongoing operation of a scheme.
Who can instruct levy recovery?
Levy recovery matters are usually instructed by owners corporations or strata managers on behalf of the scheme, in accordance with the relevant strata legislation and management arrangements.
How quickly should unpaid levies be pursued?
Unpaid levies should be addressed as early as possible. Prompt action increases the likelihood of recovery and helps prevent arrears from escalating to a level that impacts the scheme’s finances.
Do levy recovery matters always go to court or tribunal?
No. Many levy recovery matters are resolved early through structured recovery steps and negotiation. Where necessary, matters can be escalated to Tribunal or Court proceedings to enforce recovery.
Can legal costs be recovered from the lot owner?
In many cases, strata legislation and scheme documentation allow recovery of reasonable recovery costs from the defaulting lot owner, subject to compliance with statutory requirements.
What is LevyCollect?
LevyCollect is Bugden Allen’s dedicated levy recovery service and client portal, designed to streamline levy recovery and provide transparency for clients.
How does the LevyCollect portal help?
The LevyCollect portal allows clients to view levy recovery matters in real time, track progress, access documents, update information and open new matters directly, improving efficiency and visibility.
Do you handle high-volume levy recovery portfolios?
Yes. Our levy recovery services are scalable and suited to both individual matters and high-volume portfolios managed by strata managers and large owners corporations.
What happens if a lot owner continues to refuse payment?
Where voluntary payment or settlement cannot be achieved, we are experienced in progressing matters through Tribunal or Court proceedings to obtain enforceable recovery outcomes.
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We are recognised specialists in strata and community titles law, advising owners corporations, committees, strata managers, developers, government and financiers.
Our practice covers governance advice, levy recovery, by-laws, management rights, building defects, strata disputes and statutory administrations.
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