straita

Records & Access

Can I get a copy of the strata by-laws?

Short answer

Yes. The by-laws are the scheme’s rules and part of its records, so an owner can obtain a copy from the owners corporation or its strata manager. Prospective buyers usually receive them as part of pre-purchase due diligence, and tenants must be given the rules that apply to them. The by-laws are also registered against the strata plan, so a current set can be obtained through a title search if needed.

Where the by-laws live

There are three reliable sources for a scheme’s by-laws:

  • The owners corporation’s records — the by-laws are records the scheme must keep, and an owner can request a copy or inspect them.
  • The registered strata plan — changes to by-laws are registered as dealings, so the registered set can be searched through NSW Land Registry Services.
  • A section 184 / strata information certificate — which includes certain by-law information for a lot being bought or sold.

How each person gets them

  • Current owners can request a copy from the committee or strata manager, or inspect the records for a prescribed fee. Confirm the current fee before you apply. (Fee flagged for confirmation.)
  • Buyers typically get the by-laws during conveyancing, often via a strata search and the section 184 certificate.
  • Tenants must be given a copy of the by-laws that apply to them, so they know the rules of the building they are renting in.

Keeping a single current set

By-laws change over time — a scheme adds a pets by-law, amends a renovations rule, or registers a common-property rights by-law. The catch is knowing which version is current, because only the consolidated, registered set actually applies. Reading a superseded copy is a common source of disputes.

One authoritative, up-to-date rulebook

Because by-laws are amended and registered over the years, a self-managed scheme can easily end up with several versions floating around. A system such as Straita keeps the scheme’s current by-laws on the record alongside the roll and other documents, so owners, tenants and buyers can be given the version that actually applies — rather than an out-of-date copy pulled from an old folder. Confirming a change has been properly registered still sits with the committee.

Primary sources