Buying & owning
Strata & owners corporation reports
An independent inspection for apartments, units and townhouses that are part of an owners corporation. We look at the lot you are interested in and the common property you can access, and help you read the owners corporation papers so you know what to ask.
Illustration. Not an actual property or real inspection work.
- Buyers of an apartment, unit or townhouse that is part of an owners corporation.
- Investors looking at a lot in a strata development.
- Lot owners who want an independent look at their lot and the common areas around it.
- Buyers who have the owners corporation papers and want help understanding what they say about the building.
- The visible condition of the lot itself, including rooms, wet areas, windows, doors and any balcony or courtyard that belongs to it.
- Any car space or storage area that comes with the lot, where it can be reached.
- Common property you can access on the day, such as entries, corridors, stairs, car parks, gardens and the building exterior as seen from the ground.
- Visible signs of water entry, cracking or movement that may relate to the wider building.
- Help reading the owners corporation papers you provide, pointing out building-related items worth asking about.
- A written report on the lot and the common property that was accessible on the day.
- Photos supporting key observations.
- A clear list of areas that couldn't be inspected, including common areas that weren't accessible.
- Plain-language help with the building-related points in the owners corporation papers, so you know what to ask.
- The chance to ask us questions about the report.
Share the owners corporation papers you have, such as the owners corporation certificate, recent meeting minutes, the rules and any maintenance plan.
Arrange access to the lot with the selling agent or owner, and ask whether common areas such as the car park or storage can be opened.
Tell us which car space or storage area belongs to the lot.
Let us know about any concerns you already have, such as signs of water entry or works mentioned in the minutes.
Can’t see your question? Send an enquiry and we’ll come back to you.
More detail
More about strata & owners corporation reports
How it works
Tell us the address, the lot number if you know it, and whether you are buying or already own the lot. Send any owners corporation papers you have. We'll confirm the scope, including which common areas can be reached, and provide a quote. On the day, we inspect the lot and the accessible common property visually, with photos. You then receive a written report, and we talk you through the building-related points in the papers.
The lot, the common property and the papers
When a property is part of an owners corporation, the shared parts of the building matter as well as the lot itself. The entries, the car park and the building's exterior are part of what you are buying into.
The owners corporation papers can show what has been discussed or planned for the building, such as repairs or maintenance. We help you read them for building-related points and set them alongside what we saw on the day, so you can ask the owners corporation or its manager, the agent or your conveyancer the right questions.
What this report is not
It isn't legal or financial advice, a review of the owners corporation's finances, or a statutory inspection. It doesn't cover other lots or areas that couldn't be accessed, and it can't confirm that the building is free of defects.
For contract questions or your obligations as an owner, speak with your conveyancer or lawyer. Where an observation points to a wider building issue, the report can recommend a specialist, such as a structural engineer.
Learn with VicWide
Showing 3 topics
Inspections
Which inspection do I actually need?
Pre-purchase, strata, new-build and specialist inspections each suit a different need: buying a house or an apartment, building, or looking into a concern such as cracking, damp or older materials. This topic explains what each type looks at, when people usually arrange it, and how to describe your situation so we can suggest the right scope.
Key points 7
- Buying a house: a pre-purchase inspection looks at its visible condition and for signs of timber pest activity. For a home you already own, choose building and pest.
- Buying an apartment, unit or townhouse: a strata report covers the lot and the common property you can access, with help reading the owners corporation papers.
- Building: independent stage and handover inspections are checks you choose, separate from the mandatory inspections for the building permit.
- A specific concern: structural, mould and asbestos inspections look at visible cracking or movement, visible mould and signs of moisture, or materials that may contain asbestos.
- Pools and land: pool barrier inspections focus on the barrier, gates and fences. Land inspections look at the block, its site features and its surrounds.
- Before nearby works: a dilapidation report is a dated, photo-supported record of visible condition.
- If you're unsure, describe the property and the decision you're facing, and we'll help you choose.
Related service: Pre-purchase inspections
Inspections
How do I read an inspection report?
An inspection report records what was observed at the time of the inspection, where it was observed, and what couldn't be inspected. This topic walks through a typical report structure and how to use it when you talk with builders, agents or other advisers.
Key points 5
- A report describes observations at the time of the inspection. Conditions can change afterwards.
- Read the scope and limitations first, so you know what was and wasn't inspected.
- Observations are grouped by area, so you can find what matters to your decision.
- A report is not a certificate of compliance, a warranty or an insurance policy.
- If something isn't clear, ask us to explain it in plain language.
Related service: Compliance & reporting
Building
What do property owners often ask about their homes?
Many owner questions come back to a few themes: what needs a permit, which records to keep, and who to ask about a particular problem. This topic works through common questions in plain language and points to the right person for each.
Key points 5
- Check whether a permit may be needed before starting building work, including smaller projects.
- Keep permits, plans, certificates and warranties together. They matter when you sell, rent or renovate.
- Some questions need a specialist, such as a licensed land surveyor to confirm a boundary.
- An inspection describes condition. It doesn't settle disputes or give legal advice.
- If you're not sure who to ask, send an enquiry and we'll point you in the right direction.
Related service: Documentation assistance
Ready when you are
Enquire about strata & owners corporation reports
Tell us about the property. We confirm the scope and a quote with you before anything is arranged.