Claim OwnershipYour Strata Property With Amanda Farmer
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The ultimate source of actionable tips for strata property owners with Amanda Farmer
472 Episodes
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I’m wrapping up 2025 with the 5 strata surprises I didn’t see coming – not the headline stuff, but what I’ve been seeing on the ground with real owners, real committees and real disputes.
This episode is an edited replay of Friday’s LIVE chat (so you’ll hear me responding to comments as we go).
From the rapid shift on insurance commissions to the underwhelming rise of AI, plus the one issue I cannot believe we’re still fighting about…
In our final episode together for 2025, Reena Van Aalst and I share these strata challenges:
• A hoarder tenant causing a building-wide cockroach infestation
• Why proxies cannot nominate owners for committee positions
• The surprising reform agenda for two-lot schemes
and more.
Edwina Feilen of Asset Inspect joins me to explain “pre-loss risk profiling”, underinsurance traps, and what to do about the tobacconist downstairs. This is an essential reminder that strata insurance doesn’t start at claim time – it starts well before the loss.
A source of frustration for many owners, records inspections is one of the subjects I am most frequently asked about. In this encore episode, I’m sharing my 4 steps to a successful strata records inspection, including what to do when particular records are withheld for ‘privacy’ or ‘legal’ reasons.
Reena Van Aalst joins me as we cover:
Building managers and missing records: what duties do BMs really have?
NSW levy recovery reforms: what’s started, what hasn’t (yet), and the flood of payment plan requests
The words every strata manager must be prepared to say to the committee when the expert says “fix it”.
Hiring a strata manager? SCA doesn’t want you just comparing prices. SCA Australasia CEO Alisha Fisher joins me to explain SCA’s new Your Property. Our Priority. campaign, including the single question SCA wants owners to ask to determine what “good” strata management looks like in 2025 and beyond.
Will banning insurance commissions actually save owners money? Actuary and industry reformer John Trowbridge and I dive into the numbers, the conflicts, and the path to a cleaner, clearer, fee-for-service model. Plus, what underwriters, brokers, and strata managers need to change now.
Older buildings often lack modern fire safety protections – and many aren’t even required to submit annual fire safety statements. This week, I’m joined by Marty Hearne and Amelia Causer of Quantum Fire Protection, unpacking the hidden risks in older strata buildings, upcoming changes to Australian Standard 1851, and why voluntary upgrades now can save money (and lives) later.
Reena Van Aalst and I are back with the week’s biggest strata pain points – and the fixes that actually work. From Fair Trading surprise audits to “is this really sustainability?” motions, we share our wins and challenges.
Thinking about solar, batteries or EV charging in your strata building? Now’s the time.
In this week’s episode, I sit down with sustainability expert Brent Clark of Wattblock to unpack the rebates, grants, and hacks that can save your building big dollars – including some opportunities to “triple-dip” on funding opportunities.
Cyclone winds don’t just rattle windows – they turn balcony pavers into missiles and push rain straight through walls. Adj. Assoc. Professor Geoff Boughton joins me to share some of the simplest steps strata owners and residents can take to keep water out and people safe during severe weather events.
This week’s podcast episode is a little different.
It’s just me, opening up about what I’ve been noticing in our strata space, and in my own life and business. I’m sharing the personal choices I’ve made to protect my health, my relationships, and my time, while still running a thriving business I love.
If you’ve ever felt stretched too thin or wondered if there’s a better way forward, I think this episode will resonate with you.
And if you’re ready to go deeper, join my free online training this Thursday, 4 September. Your access to that is in this episode.
( This episode was recorded prior to yesterday’s SCA(NSW) announcement about banning insurance commissions. Yes, the timing is uncanny. As I say in the podcast: it’s just the universe, doing what it does best )
Reena Van Aalst and I are back on the couch – this time live from the Gold Coast. From a committee asking owners to ignore the Design & Building Practitioners Act, to the insurance claim settled for over $300K, we’re diving into the week’s biggest challenges.
Registered design practitioner Scott Pearse joins me to explain how “$2,000 pieces of paper” are creating a barrier for those wanting to add value to their apartment with a renovation. Plus, why it’s less about the build and more about the politics.
If you’re planning a reno in strata, this episode is your reality check.
Reena Van Aalst and I are trading our real-life strata challenges:
• Can non-owners attend committee meetings?
• Why hybrid loans might surprise your building
• Confusion over the $31 inspection fee (GST included?)
• An important NCAT win for one of our members – all about rats!
Think you’ve got a month to pay your levies before it matters? Think again. I’m unpacking exactly what “unfinancial” means under the NSW strata law and busting some common myths along the way. Owners – tune in for practical tips to help you stay in good standing, and Managers – these are the technicalities you MUST be across.
I’m covering the legal and practical realities of turning your unused car space into a side hustle. With some owners apparently pocketing up to $850 a month, it’s tempting, but are you risking by-law breaches, insurance issues, or tribunal action? I share some landmark court cases, plus the essential inclusions in any lease agreement.
Reena Van Aalst joins me in a rare in-person chat covering:
The real cost of under-resourced strata management
Some of the big-ticket items in NSW’s latest strata reforms
The empowered owner who chose to sell – finding freedom on the other side of the fight
A group of owners launching a bold (and misguided) challenge to a compulsory appointment.
An important note: when discussing the NSW law reform, you’ll hear me mention the new, mandatory general meeting motion dealing with “environmental sustainability”. To be clear, this motion is mandatory for all annual general meeting (AGM) agendas from 1 July.
I’m walking you through 5 situations where taking your strata dispute to the Tribunal isn’t just reasonable—it’s necessary.
These are real cases, with real lessons, helping you understand when it’s time to stop negotiating and take action.
I’m sharing 5 hard truths I’ve learned as a strata lawyer – truths that might just change your mind about commencing legal proceedings (whether that’s in NCAT, or the equivalent in your jurisdiction).
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