Strata Lawyers for Buyers, Sellers and Owners
Strata records, by-laws, levies, defects and disputes
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Buying into a strata scheme means buying a share of a building and a seat at its table. The levies, the by-laws, the repair bills coming up and the disputes already running are all part of what you are buying, and they are written in the scheme's records rather than the contract.
Optimum Lawyers is a property law firm in Parramatta Square, led by principal solicitor Wisam Assi. We act on property in every Australian state and territory.

Send us the contract and strata report
We offer a free initial contract assessment. It is a brief first look at whether the contract appears ready for a full paid legal review. It is not the full review, and it is not free conveyancing.
Buying into a strata scheme
- The records. Minutes, levies, the capital works or sinking fund, special levies, defect reports, insurance and disputes.
- By-laws. Pets, renovations, parking, and whether short-term letting is allowed.
- Building defects. In NSW, the developer of a residential building of four storeys or more must lodge a bond of 2% of the contract price to cover defects found in the first two years. Other states handle defects differently.
- Off-the-plan units. The proposed by-laws, budget and plan, the sunset date, and what the developer can change.
The names change by state
A strata scheme and owners corporation in NSW is an owners corporation in Victoria, a body corporate in Queensland, a strata company in Western Australia, a strata or community corporation in South Australia, and a unit title owners corporation in the ACT. The documents a seller must give a buyer differ in each, and we act in all of them.
Selling a strata lot
Buyers and their lawyers will ask for the strata records, and in several states the seller must give specific strata information before the buyer signs. Missing or wrong information can let a buyer end the contract, so it is worth getting right first.
Strata disputes
- By-law breaches and renovation approvals. What the owners corporation can require, and what an owner can do without approval.
- Repairs and common property. Who is responsible for water leaks, balconies and building defects.
- Levies. Disputed special levies and recovery of unpaid levies.
- Where disputes go. In NSW, most strata disputes go to mediation through NSW Fair Trading before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. In Queensland they go to the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management, in Victoria to VCAT, and in WA to the State Administrative Tribunal.
What clients say
“Wisam was incredible from the get go. Very knowledgeable, well priced and extremely prompt”
Peter Aliferis, Google review
Questions about strata
What should I check before buying a strata apartment?
The minutes, levies, capital works fund, special levies, defect reports, insurance, by-laws and any disputes.
What is the NSW strata building bond?
For residential buildings of four storeys or more, the developer lodges 2% of the contract price as security for defects found in the first two years.
Where do NSW strata disputes go?
Most go to mediation through NSW Fair Trading first, then to the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal if they are not resolved.
Do you act on strata purchases in other states?
Yes. We act on strata, body corporate and owners corporation purchases in every state.
Related: Contract of sale review | Property dispute lawyers | Property lawyers
From Our Clients
We are the leading interstate Queensland conveyancing property lawyers in Sydney for a reason. Ethical, Trusted, Optimum Lawyers Parramatta at your service. Still unsure? We let our reviews do the talking.
Top Rated
Service 20265.0 verified by TrustindexTrustindex verifies that the company has a review score above 4.5, based on reviews collected on Google over the past 12 months, qualifying it to receive the Top Rated Certificate.



























