SCA (NSW) has released three new Best Practice Guides to help strata professionals, Owners Corporations and committees navigate important areas of strata management with greater clarity, consistency and confidence.
Available free to all SCA (NSW) members through the Member Portal, the new guides provide practical advice, recommended processes and best practice principles to support better outcomes across the life of a strata scheme.
The three new guides cover:
- Capital Works Plans
- Transfer of Records
- Access to Books and Records
Together, they provide practical guidance on some of the important processes and responsibilities involved in managing a strata scheme.
Guide for Capital Works Plans
Capital works planning plays an important role in the long-term management, maintenance and financial sustainability of a strata scheme.
The Guide for Capital Works Plans provides practical guidance on preparing, implementing and reviewing Capital Works Fund Plans for NSW strata schemes. It aims to support compliance with relevant strata laws while promoting consistent, transparent and sustainable financial planning.
The guide also helps strata professionals, Owners Corporations and committees better understand their respective roles and responsibilities in capital works planning.
By encouraging proactive maintenance and long-term financial forecasting, the guide supports better building outcomes and stronger consumer protection for lot owners and residents.
The guide includes:
- An overview of the legislative framework
- Key Best Practice Principles
- Best Practice Recommendations
Transfer of Records
When an Owners Corporation changes its Strata Managing Agent or transitions to self-management, the transfer of records and information is an important process.
A well-managed transfer can help ensure continuity of management, minimise operational disruption, support effective communication and assist with meeting relevant legislative obligations.
The Transfer of Records guide provides practical guidance on the recommended processes, responsibilities and documentation requirements involved in transferring records and information.
The guide includes:
- A Transfer of Records Checklist
- An overview of the legislative framework
- Key Best Practice Principles
- Best Practice Recommendations
- Additional resources
The checklist provides a practical resource to help ensure important records and information are identified, transferred and received as part of the transition process.
Access to Books and Records
Accurate, accessible and well-managed records are essential to the effective administration of a strata scheme.
The Access to Books and Records guide provides practical advice to Strata Managing Agents on the management, retention, storage and provision of Owners Corporation books and records.
It outlines key legislative requirements, access rights and recommended operational practices for managing records throughout their lifecycle. It also encourages consistent record-keeping practices that support business continuity and ensure records can be accessed by authorised persons when required.
The guide covers:
- A sample Books and Records Access Policy
- Who may access books and records?
- What records should an Owners Corporation maintain?
- Strata information certificates
- The 15-step process for accessing books and records
- Record-keeping and privacy considerations
- Common risks and poor practices
- An overview of the legislative framework
- Key Best Practice Principles
- Best Practice Recommendations
The guide also provides practical information on the process that follows when a written notice is received for an inspection of an Owners Corporation’s books and records, including the relevant requirements around the prescribed fee and the records that must be made available.
SCA (NSW) Best Practice Guides are designed to support the industry with practical resources that help promote professionalism, consistency and better outcomes for strata communities.
We thank the committee members and industry professionals who contributed their time, expertise and experience to developing these three new guides.
SCA (NSW) members can access all three guides for free via the Member Portal – https://scansw.com.au/my-account
