Introducing our new strata inspector

News for 2024: 

BeSafe Property Inspections is excited to welcome our new strata inspector Tina to the team. 

Tina comes to us with eight years of experience as a strata manager, meaning she has an in-depth understanding of strata buildings and what goes on behind the scenes of these types of premises. Having her on board increases our capacity to create the strata reports that help apartment and unit buyers make more confident purchasing decisions. 

What is a strata inspector?

Strata inspectors are responsible for strata inspection reports. These provide vital information for people who are thinking of buying a unit or apartment within a strata complex or building.

Strata inspection reports provide an extensive list of details about a complex, including:

• Current title/ownership (so you can confirm the seller is the owner of the property)
• Strata fees
• Voting rights as a resident
• Whether the strata scheme complies with fire and safety requirements, including asbestos management
• Whether animals are permitted in the block
• Any building defects or past owner’s claims for defects
• The current value of the building
• Future expenses that may required due to pending works or special levies
• The financial status of the strata scheme and how many accounts are outstanding
• The status of the capital works fund
• By-laws within the building (e.g. parking and noise restrictions, or rules about hanging laundry on balconies)
• Existing disputes between tenants or between tenants and the owners corporation
• Recent strata meeting minutes
• Details about common property including grassed areas, car parks and swimming pools etc

Unlike a property inspector, a strata inspector in Sydney doesn’t attend a property. Iti’s their job to review documents and reports. 

Different strata committees keep different levels of information but a strata inspector will look at what’s available in detail as well as accessing public records to ensure the unit purchase doesn’t come with hidden traps that can end up costing a lot of money. 

Why are strata inspections necessary for apartments and units in Sydney?

Strata inspections are necessary in the same way that building inspections are necessary when you buy a free-standing home.

When you buy a place, you want to know that there are no serious issues like termites, leaky pipes or missing roof tiles. When you have a building inspection carried out, an expert will assess the structure of the house and let you know of any issues that might impact your decision to buy the property.

A strata inspection takes into account that these issues may exist across the strata property a buyer wants to buy into, as well as the fact that strata buildings often encounter difficulties in relation to governance and community. 

A strata inspector will highlight red flags relating to the complex, which may influence a buyer’s decision to sign the exchange contract. For example, a strata report that makes note of upcoming works that are set to cost each lot owner $40,000 may result in a decision to reduce an offer or withdraw it completely. A strata inspector might also flag repeated issues with the owner of a particular unit, which can be an indicator that there is a problem with noise or the use of visitor parking in the building. 

Ordering a strata report as part of the buying process delivers peace of mind about a purchasing decision, and can help a buyer to avoid a future money pit. 

Get a rapid strata report from BeSafe Inspections

In Sydney’s competitive property market, time is of the essence.

By adding Tina to our strata inspector team, we are able to help buyers to quickly access a strata report so they can confirm an offer and exchange a contract as quickly as possible.

We understand the importance of a fast strata report and endeavour to always deliver fast turnaround on the 50 to 60 strata reports we process every week. 

Whether you have made an offer on a unit or apartment, or you need a strata report on behalf of your clients, we can help. Contact us by calling (02) 9410-3740 or visiting the BeSafe website to request a quote today.