The Strata Sector's Challenges

Governance and Regulation Issues

The Round Table Initiative

Sustainability in Strata

The Six Pillars of Reform

Understanding Strata Obligations

Importance of Maintenance and Governance Data

Investing in the Strata Sector

Personal Mission to Improve Property Decisions

Challenges in Strata Education and Awareness

Public Awareness and Training Initiatives

Strata Management and Building Maintenance

The Future of Strata Development

Sector Collaboration and Task Force

Final Thoughts and Call to Action

Australia’s strata sector is under pressure — and it's no longer a niche issue.

Following high-profile investigations by Four Corners and 7.30 Report, strata governance failures, building defects, and financial blowouts are now front and centre. With more Australians living in apartments and townhouses than ever before, what happens next in this space will impact millions.

In this episode, Kate McHugh, co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable, joins us to unpack what’s driving the crisis—and what needs to change. Drawing from her work on the Strata Futures Report, Kate outlines the six key reform pillars that emerged from cross-sector collaboration, covering everything from governance and professional standards to owner advocacy and sustainability.

We explore how opaque commissions, underfunded capital works, power imbalances, and a fragmented regulatory system are eroding trust in strata—and why many apartment owners are left feeling blindsided by defects and skyrocketing levies. Kate also shares what it would take for the sector to turn itself around—before government intervention does it for them.

Whether you're a strata owner, buyer, investor, or professional, this episode offers critical insight into the future of high-density living in Australia.

 

Episode Highlights

00:00 – Welcome

02:09 – The Strata Sector's Challenges

04:14 – Governance and Regulation Issues

05:08 – The Round Table Initiative

11:54 – Sustainability in Strata

17:13 – The Six Pillars of Reform

26:07 – Understanding Strata Obligations

27:19 – The Importance of Maintenance and Governance Data

28:30 – Investing in the Strata Sector

29:08 – Personal Mission to Improve Property Decisions

30:18 – Challenges in Strata Education and Awareness

31:29 – Public Awareness and Training Initiatives

33:32 – Strata Management and Building Maintenance

37:00 – The Future of Strata Development

40:30 – Sector Collaboration and Task Force

44:14 – Final Thoughts and Call to Action


Mentions
Strata Futures - https://www.katemchugh.net/strata-futures


About the Guest

Kate McHugh is the co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable and co-author of the Strata Futures Report. With a background in governance, policy, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, Kate works at the intersection of lived experience and systemic reform in Australia’s strata sector.

Partnering with former NSW Strata Commissioner John Minns and a wide network of industry and consumer leaders, Kate helped convene a cross-sector discussion to explore what’s broken—and what could be rebuilt. The outcome: a collaborative report outlining six key reform areas designed to make strata more equitable, transparent, and functional. Her work is helping push the conversation forward at a time when strata’s role in housing affordability, sustainability, and urban planning has never been more critical.


Connect with Kate
Website: https://www.katemchugh.net/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemchughh/

 

Resources
Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au
If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:
The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au
Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? https://www.gooddeeds.com.au
Work with Veronica: https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au
Looking for a Mortgage Broker? alcove.com.au
Work with Chris: chrisbates@alcove.com.au 

 

Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!
Subscribe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast
Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719
Subscribe on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765

If you enjoyed today’s podcast, don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There’s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!

See you on the inside,

Veronica & Chris

Australia&rsquo;s strata sector is under pressure &mdash; and it's no longer a niche issue.
Following high-profile investigations by Four Corners and 7.30 Report, strata governance failures, building defects, and financial blowouts are now front and centre. With more Australians living in apartments and townhouses than ever before, what happens next in this space will impact millions.
In this episode, Kate McHugh, co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable, joins us to unpack what&rsquo;s driving the crisis&mdash;and what needs to change. Drawing from her work on the Strata Futures Report, Kate outlines the six key reform pillars that emerged from cross-sector collaboration, covering everything from governance and professional standards to owner advocacy and sustainability.
We explore how opaque commissions, underfunded capital works, power imbalances, and a fragmented regulatory system are eroding trust in strata&mdash;and why many apartment owners are left feeling blindsided by defects and skyrocketing levies. Kate also shares what it would take for the sector to turn itself around&mdash;before government intervention does it for them.
Whether you're a strata owner, buyer, investor, or professional, this episode offers critical insight into the future of high-density living in Australia.
&nbsp;
Episode Highlights
00:00 &ndash; Welcome
02:09 &ndash; The Strata Sector's Challenges
04:14 &ndash; Governance and Regulation Issues
05:08 &ndash; The Round Table Initiative
11:54 &ndash; Sustainability in Strata
17:13 &ndash; The Six Pillars of Reform
26:07 &ndash; Understanding Strata Obligations
27:19 &ndash; The Importance of Maintenance and Governance Data
28:30 &ndash; Investing in the Strata Sector
29:08 &ndash; Personal Mission to Improve Property Decisions
30:18 &ndash; Challenges in Strata Education and Awareness
31:29 &ndash; Public Awareness and Training Initiatives
33:32 &ndash; Strata Management and Building Maintenance
37:00 &ndash; The Future of Strata Development
40:30 &ndash; Sector Collaboration and Task Force
44:14 &ndash; Final Thoughts and Call to Action
 Mentions
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Strata Futures - https://www.katemchugh.net/strata-futures</li>
</ul>
 About the Guest
Kate McHugh is the co-founder of the Strata Futures Stakeholder Engagement and Roundtable and co-author of the Strata Futures Report. With a background in governance, policy, sustainability, and stakeholder engagement, Kate works at the intersection of lived experience and systemic reform in Australia&rsquo;s strata sector.
Partnering with former NSW Strata Commissioner John Minns and a wide network of industry and consumer leaders, Kate helped convene a cross-sector discussion to explore what&rsquo;s broken&mdash;and what could be rebuilt. The outcome: a collaborative report outlining six key reform areas designed to make strata more equitable, transparent, and functional. Her work is helping push the conversation forward at a time when strata&rsquo;s role in housing affordability, sustainability, and urban planning has never been more critical.
 Connect with Kate
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Website: https://www.katemchugh.net/</li>
<li aria-level="1">LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katemchughh/</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Resources
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit our website: https://www.theelephantintheroom.com.au</li>
<li aria-level="1">If you have any questions or would like to be featured on our show, contact us at:</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">The Elephant in the Room Property Podcast - <a href="mailto:questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au">questions@theelephantintheroom.com.au</a></li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">Looking for a Sydney Buyers Agent? <a href="http://www.gooddeeds.com.au/">https://www.gooddeeds.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Work with Veronica: <a href="http://www.veronicamorgan.com.au">https://www.veronicamorgan.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Looking for a Mortgage Broker? <a href="http://alcove.com.au">alcove.com.au</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Work with Chris: <a href="mailto:chrisbates@alcove.com.au">chrisbates@alcove.com.au</a>&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Enjoyed the podcast? Don't miss out on what's yet to come! Hit that subscription button, spread the word, and join us for more insightful discussions in real estate. Your journey starts now!
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast">https://www.youtube.com/@theelephantintheroom-podcast</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719">https://podcasts.apple.com/ph/podcast/the-elephant-in-the-room-property-podcast/id1384822719</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Subscribe on Spotify: <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765">https://open.spotify.com/show/3Ge1626dgnmK0RyKPcXjP0?si=26cde394fa854765</a></li>
</ul>
If you enjoyed today&rsquo;s podcast, don&rsquo;t forget to subscribe, rate, and share the show! There&rsquo;s more to come, so we hope to have you along with us on this journey!
See you on the inside,
Veronica &amp; Chris

Who's really in control when you buy a property?

The Elephant In The Room is where the things that no one wants to talk about, actually get talked about.  

Veronica Morgan, real estate agent, buyers agent and co-host of Foxtel’s Location Location Location Australia & Chris Bates, financial planner, mortgage broker and wealth coach have joined forces to find out what’s really going on in the world of real estate.

Veronica and Chris talk to property owners and buyers every day in their respective lines of business. They’ve observed a wide spectrum of confidence in people’s decision making ability when buying and selling property, often to the detriment of the individuals concerned. They are both fascinated by consumer behaviour and together they’re going to uncover who’s really making the decisions when you buy a property.

In each episode they get into the psyche of buyers, agents, auctioneers and other industry experts to learn the truth about how buyers are influenced and why they do the things they do. In every episode you’ll learn from the mistakes of a “property dumbo” as well as Chris & Veronica’s “elephant rider bootcamp” training session.

The plan? This property podcast has been created to help us all make better property decisions!

We talk about the things no one wants to talk about in the Property Market

The Elephant In The Room Property Podcast | Inside Australian Real Estate

Strata at a Crossroads: Why the System Needs Urgent Change

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