Strata Report Review

Know Exactly What You’re Buying Into — Before You Sign

  • Independent, buyer-side reviews of strata & body corporate reports.
  • Fixed-fee pricing — no surprises, no hourly billing.
  • Fast 24–48 hour turnaround, with urgent same-day options.
  • Plain-English summary of financials, levies, defects & disputes.
  • Experience across NSW, VIC, QLD & WA strata schemes.
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Property lawyer reviewing a strata inspection report

Why a Strata Report Review Matters

A Strata Purchase Is More Than Four Walls

When you buy an apartment, townhouse or unit in a strata scheme, you’re not just buying your own lot — you’re buying into a shared legal and financial community run by an owners corporation (a body corporate in QLD, an owners corporation in VIC, and a strata company in WA). Decisions about the building’s budget, repairs, insurance and by-laws are made collectively, and you inherit your share of them the moment you settle.

A strata report opens up that community’s records: the administrative and capital works funds, levies, insurance, meeting minutes, building defects, and any disputes or litigation. It can run to hundreds of pages — and the most important risks are rarely on the first page.

At Corporate Legal, our proactive, buyer-side reviews translate all of that into a clear, plain-English picture of what you’re really committing to. We don’t simply repeat what the inspector found — we tell you what it means for you, what to be concerned about, and what to do next.

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What Our Strata Report Review Covers

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Financial Health of the Scheme

We examine the administrative and capital works (sinking) fund balances to see whether the scheme is well-funded for day-to-day running and future major works — or whether you’re likely to face a shortfall soon after settling.

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Levies & Special Levies

We identify your ongoing quarterly levies and, critically, any special levies already raised or looming for repairs, upgrades or fire-safety works — costs that can run into the thousands.

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Building Defects & Major Works

We flag reported structural problems, water ingress, cladding and waterproofing issues, and any planned or overdue capital works that could affect your enjoyment and the property’s value.

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Insurance Adequacy

We check the building is properly insured — including for the correct reinstatement value and required cover — so you’re not exposed if something goes wrong.

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Disputes, Litigation & By-Laws

We look for owner disputes, tribunal proceedings, building-rectification claims, and restrictive by-laws on pets, renovations, short-stay letting or parking.

Meeting Minutes & Management

We read the AGM/EGM and committee minutes to gauge how well the scheme is run, owner harmony, and any red flags hiding in the day-to-day records.

Get a complete read on your scheme before you commit.

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Who We Help

First home buyers purchasing an apartment

First-Home & Apartment Buyers

If this is your first strata purchase, the jargon — lot entitlements, sinking funds, special levies — can be overwhelming. We translate the report into plain English so you understand the ongoing costs and obligations before you fall in love with the lifestyle.

Property investor reviewing strata scheme figures

Investors

For investors, the numbers decide the deal. We help you assess whether the scheme’s financial position, levies and by-laws (including any short-stay or leasing restrictions) support your yield and exit strategy.

Downsizers moving into a strata apartment

Downsizers & Lifestyle Buyers

Moving into a managed community should reduce stress, not add it. We make sure the building is well-run, properly funded and free of nasty surprises so your next chapter starts on solid ground.

Whatever your situation, we’ll tell you what the report really says.

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The Hidden Risks a Strata Report Can Reveal

01

An Underfunded Sinking Fund

A healthy-looking levy can mask a capital works fund nowhere near enough for the building’s age and condition. When major works land, the bill falls on owners — sometimes within months of settlement.

02

Looming Special Levies

Minutes often hint at expensive works being “investigated” long before a levy is formally struck. We surface these early so you can negotiate the price or walk away.

03

Building Defects & Cladding

Water ingress, structural cracking, waterproofing failure and combustible cladding are among the most costly strata problems. We highlight what’s reported and what’s unresolved.

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Disputes & Litigation

Active tribunal proceedings, builder-rectification claims or entrenched owner conflict can mean years of cost and disruption — and can make a lot very hard to resell.

05

Restrictive By-Laws

By-laws can prohibit pets, restrict renovations, ban short-stay letting or limit parking. We make sure the rules fit how you intend to live or invest.

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Inadequate or Lapsed Insurance

If the building is under-insured or key cover has lapsed, owners can be personally exposed. We confirm the scheme’s cover is appropriate and current.

Don’t discover these after settlement. Talk to us first.

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How It Works

01

Send Us the Report

Email us the strata, owners corporation or body corporate report you’ve received from your agent or inspection provider. Don’t have one yet? We can arrange it for you.

02

Legal Review

We analyse the report and supporting documents in detail — funds, levies, insurance, minutes, defects and disputes — identifying the risks that matter to your purchase.

03

Plain-English Advice Summary

You receive a clear written summary setting out our findings, the key red flags, and our recommended next steps — in language you can actually act on.

04

Follow-Up Call (Optional)

Speak directly with one of our lawyers to talk through your concerns, your negotiating position and your options before you sign.

Most reports reviewed within 24–48 hours — urgent service available.

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Strata Reviews Across Australia

Strata law and terminology differ from state to state, and so do the records you’ll receive. We review schemes across the states we serve, applying the right framework to each:

StateWhat the body is calledWhat the report typically covers
NSWOwners CorporationStrata roll, funds, levies, minutes, by-laws, insurance, defects, NCAT matters
VICOwners CorporationOC certificate, fees, financials, rules, insurance, repairs and disputes
QLDBody CorporateBody corporate records search, sinking/admin funds, by-laws, insurance, disputes
WAStrata CompanyStrata company records, reserve fund, levies, by-laws, insurance, scheme disputes

Part of a Complete Conveyancing Service

A strata report review is often one piece of a larger purchase. If you’d like us to handle the whole transaction — from contract review through to settlement — we can.

Residential Conveyancing

End-to-end conveyancing for apartment and townhouse buyers. Learn more →

Commercial Conveyancing

Strata-titled offices, retail and industrial units. Learn more →

Contract Reviews

Plain-English review of your contract of sale. Learn more →

Want us to manage the whole purchase, not just the report?

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Why Choose Corporate Legal

Genuinely Independent

We act only for you, the buyer — never the agent or seller. Our advice is in your interests alone.

Lawyers, Not Just Reviewers

Your report is assessed by a qualified property lawyer who understands the legal consequences, not just the contents.

Fixed-Fee Pricing

A clear, upfront fee with no hourly surprises, so you know exactly what you’re paying.

Fast Turnaround

24–48 hours for most reports, with urgent same-day service available when timing is tight.

Plain-English Advice

No jargon — just a clear read on the risks and what to do about them.

Multi-State Expertise

NSW, VIC, QLD & WA schemes, each handled under the correct state framework.

Get an independent, expert read on your strata report today.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I get legal advice on a strata report?
Strata reports can hide serious risks — building defects, an underfunded sinking fund, looming special levies or active disputes. A lawyer helps you understand what you’re really buying into and how it affects your legal and financial position.
What’s the difference between a strata report and a strata report review?
The report is the raw search of the scheme’s records, often hundreds of pages. Our review is the legal interpretation — we read it, identify the risks that matter, and give you clear, actionable advice.
How quickly can you review a report?
We offer 24–48 hour turnaround for most reports. Urgent same-day service may be available on request — just let us know your deadline.
What if I don’t have the report yet?
No problem. We can arrange a strata, owners corporation or body corporate report through a trusted provider, or wait until you receive yours to begin.
Is your advice independent of the seller or agent?
Yes. We act only for you, the buyer. Our advice is completely independent and based solely on your best interests.
Do you review reports outside NSW?
Yes. We review strata, owners corporation, body corporate and strata company records across NSW, VIC, QLD and WA, applying the correct framework for each state.
Can you also review the contract of sale?
Absolutely. A strata report review pairs naturally with a contract review — we can do both, or manage your entire conveyancing from contract to settlement.

Still have questions about your strata report?

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Buy With Confidence

A strata purchase is a major commitment, and the costliest problems are usually the ones buyers never saw coming. Before you sign, let Corporate Legal give you an independent, expert read on exactly what you’re buying into — quickly, clearly, and for a fixed fee.

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