Welcome Back and Happy New Year!

As we settle into 2025, adjusting to writing the new date and getting back into the rhythm of the year, the team at Smart Strata is following tradition by reflecting on our most-read updates from 2024.

Last year was packed with significant developments—from the release of the Strata Community Association’s ‘Strata Insurance Disclosure Best Practice Guide’ to in-depth discussions on insurance affordability and accountability, led by the Australian Reinsurance Pool Corporation. With no shortage of hot topics, our updates were read an impressive 682,945 times throughout the year!

Now, let’s count down our Top 10 most-read updates of 2024, providing a brief recap of each.

10th Place – 15,594 Reads

By-Laws and Insurance Seminars – Registrations Open! | Quote Requirements for Major Spending | Network Charges Explained
Hundreds of readers eagerly registered for our By-Laws and Insurance seminars held across six QLD regions in October. Frank Higginson, Partner of Hynes Legal also provided valuable insights into major spending limits, while HumEnergy broke down network charges and their purpose.

9th Place – 15,656 Reads

Occupation Authorities Explained | Water Ingress Tips
Brendan Pitman, Partner, Grace Lawyers shed light on common issues related to occupation authority areas. Meanwhile, Mike Smith, General Manager, and Brenton Smith, Director of Commercial Building Facade Solutions tackled one of the most persistent problems in strata living: water ingress, offering practical prevention tips.

8th Place – 15,916 Reads

Utility Service Providers Entry to Lots | Embedded Networks and Cost of Living Rebates
Brendan Pitman, Partner of Grace Lawyers explored disputes over utility access in community title schemes, while the Strata Community Association (QLD) provided insights on embedded networks and cost-of-living rebates for eligible Queensland households and businesses.

7th Place – 15,959 Reads

Magistrates Court Order for Feeding Birds | Community Education Seminars – Sunshine Coast Next Week!
Brenton Schoch, Partner of Grace Lawyers examined an unusual case—could a lot owner be imprisoned for feeding birds? Meanwhile, Smart Strata introduced Brenton as a guest speaker for the Sunshine Coast Community Education Seminar.

6th Place – 16,116 Reads

Commissions and Benefits Disclosure Explained | Case Study – Discovering Post Meeting Errors | Building Leaks – Damage Prevention
The Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management outlined disclosure requirements for bodies corporate receiving commissions or benefits. Jason Carlson, Partner of Chambers Russell Lawyers shared a case study on correcting post-meeting errors, while Sam Hogg, Director of PASG Projects emphasized the importance of addressing building leaks before structural damage escalates.

5th Place – 16,270 Reads

Scheme Termination Provisions Update | Lithium-Ion Batteries & Fire Risk
Katya Prideaux, Senior Lawyer of Mahoneys Lawyers & Advisors delved into newly introduced scheme termination provisions, particularly their impact on non-owner occupiers. Andrew Staehr, Director of Strata Compliance Solutions also sparked discussion with an article on lithium-ion battery fire risks.

4th Place – 16,569 Reads

Recovering from the End of 2023 | Top 10 of 2023 | Committee Course Challenge Closing Soon
Nicky Lonergan, Managing Director of, Archers the Strata Professionals recapped the severe storms that affected SEQ and NQ at the end of 2023. Our annual Top 10 Smart Strata Updates list proved more popular than ever, and the final call for the Committee Course Challenge saw a last-minute surge in participants.

3rd Place – 17,592 Reads

Short-Term Letting – Disruptive Behaviour Management | Short-term Letting Licensing | Committee Course Challenge Final Week
The Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management addressed the challenges of short-term letting in strata communities. The Real Estate Institute of Queensland reinforced the necessity of proper licensing for property managers. Meanwhile, the Committee Course Challenge continued to capture strong interest.

2nd Place – 21,679 Reads

Merry Christmas! | Does Human Rights Legislation Apply to Strata? | Win The Committee Course Challenge!
Human rights legislation in strata was a hot topic, with Jarad Maher, Partner of Grace Lawyers exploring its implications. Our annual Christmas message was a hit, and the launch of the Committee Course Challenge drew widespread participation.

1st Place – 22,294 Reads

Communal Living – Christmas Survival Guide | Management Rights “Top Ups” Clarified | 5 Costly Maintenance Mistakes for Owners
Todd Garsden, Partner of Mahoneys Lawyers and Advisors dispelled myths around management rights “top-ups.” Sam Hogg, Director of PASG Projects shared the five most common maintenance mistakes made by lot owners. Finally, Wayne Hewitt, Partner of Archers the Strata Professionals provided invaluable tips on navigating communal living during the festive season.

Looking Ahead to 2025

We hope you found value in the content we provided throughout 2024. If you’ve read this far, you likely have a strong interest in strata-related topics! Let us know in the comments what you’d like to see more of, and we’ll seek expert contributors.

Finally, a massive thank you to our dedicated article contributors. Your expertise helps us remain a trusted source of strata education.

Here’s to another year of insightful discussions—Happy New Year from Smart Strata!

This article was contributed by Smart Strata.

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