Avoid unlicensed strata managing agents, warns industry body
One leading industry body has called for apartment owners to be wary of unqualified strata managing agents after a report coming to light regarding Salim Mehajer’s unlicensed business.
After a report by Domain revealed that Salim Mehajer’s recent strata business, On Call Strata, did not have a licence, Strata Community Association (SCA)’s CEO Erik Adriaanse has said that this instance highlights the need to not cut corners and seek out properly licensed officials.
“Salim Mehajer’s case has certainly brought to light concerns about strata management operations and the level of experience and qualifications necessary to serve apartment owners,” Mr Adriaanse said.
“It’s vital that owners can trust that their strata managers are properly licensed and will perform their role appropriately, since their appointed strata manager will be handling finances and complex legislation.
“Any strata management agency needs to be mindful of updates to strata laws surrounding conflicts of interest and ensure that they are operating ethically and legally.”
According to Mr Adriaanse, there has been a negative perception towards strata managers for decades, but he claims work by SCA to hold over 80 per cent of professionals to a code of conduct and making tertiary qualifications available is helping reverse that perception.
“As a leading representative for strata nationally, we want to keep the bar high for standards of members and professionals in the industry,” he said.
“The SCA stands for bringing professionalism and ethics to the industry, where apartment owners can use our list of members to find out if their strata manager is not only qualified, but accredited.”
“By driving the qualification and assessment of strata managers in the industry, we aim to improve consumer confidence and prevent rouge operators from causing problems for strata communities.”