Strata Friends or Foes?
or, who’s side are the media [and others] on …
A Quick Read
There are lots of people and organisations that are exposing the cracks, problems and ugly side of strata title; especially journalists, but also some strata groups, commentators, and goods and services suppliers. They’re causing anguish for strata managers and others. But, they’re also comforting and delighting strata owners, committees and others.
So, are they strata friends or foes? Or, neither? Or, both?
[a 5:50 minute read, with 1107 words]
The Full Article
INTRODUCTION
A lot of the Australian media that has become increasingly focused on showcasing the problems in strata title buildings covering sad, tragic, and usually worrying stories of awful experiences by strata owners and residents, and bad, worse and sometimes illegal behaviours by developers, builders, strata managers, building managers and the suppliers of goods and services.
Plus, what about all those strata commentators out there [like us at GoStrata Media] making ‘tsk tsk’ noises and those strata goods and service suppliers [including some strata managers] that are marketing to gaps in the strata market with new and/or better offerings and criticising existing business practices?
It’s upsetting many strata stakeholders [especially strata managers] who see them as attacking them and the strata sector itself … unfairly.
So, are the people and groups shining a light on problems to fix them or just scaremongering to get clicks, eyeballs and/or to build their own businesses?
Or, are they both friends and foes, doing good self-interestedly?
WHO ARE WE TALKING ABOUT DOING THE STRATA ATTACKING?
Well, there are lots of people and organisations doing this strata showcasing/attacking thing.
The most visible are the media outlets like:
ABC News, who’s been publishing articles, news reports and the Four Corners expose The Strata Trap
The Daily Telegraph, who’s published articles about strata defect dramas and strata levy actions.
The Sydney Morning Herald, that’s recently started the Shoddy Sydney series.
Insurance News, who’s been reporting regularly on strata insurance issues since it’s been a hot topic.
As well as randomly appearing articles in other Australian capital cities.
Then there’s the strata commentators, publishers and podcasters like:
Flat Chat, that provocative podcast and forum from Jimmy Thomson.
Your Strata Property, that strata information podcast, members forum and website from Amanda Farmer.
Look Up Strata, a strata manager and strata owner-focused information, training and commentary website and vlogger.
Michael Teys, who’s telling strata managers to do better and how.
GoStrata Media [that’s us], which writes about lots of strata issues in a critical way.
And, finally, there’s the strata consumer and advocate groups.
The Owners Corporation Network of Australia, which describes itself as the independent voice of strata owners.
Strata Council, which says it is Australia’s largest strata owner community.
The Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby, which says it is a leading consumer advocacy group dedicated to addressing pressing consumer issues associated with general insurance
Australian Apartment Advocacy, which says it is the voice for people who choose apartments.
And, more that I’ve undoubtedly missed.
You can explore what they’ve been publishing and saying at the links to each of them.
A LINTON BESSER CASE STUDY
I was going to call this article Is Linton Besser a strata friend or foe? as emblematic of the dilemma he’s created as one of the most visible characters for a long time, or ever. But things have expanded beyond just one journalist.
But understanding what Linton did and why holds important learnings for strata citizens.
Linton is an investigative journalist [with a long history of doing so with a lot of success] who got onto a story about strata management issues, found leads, investigated the story properly and discovered some very newsworthy stuff.
The ABC editors liked it and published a series of great stories, interviews and programmes in 2024 that had a pretty significant impact.
To be honest, there are actually not that many ABC News stories or reports, and [in my opinion] those stories just scratch the surface of what could [and maybe should] be revealed.
But, the ABC News stories hit hard, leading to people stepping down from leadership roles, businesses suffering investigations and share price impacts, law changes in at least one state, other regulatory actions, and serious navel gazing.
So, Linton did his journalist job … well, or, at least, better than others before him.
The fallout on people, organisations and businesses that has and will occur, was and will be, in hindsight, necessary and appropriate.
And, serious thinking about and changes in the strata sector are long overdue.
Linton explains himself, what he learned and his thoughts on those things candidly in the Flat Chat Wrap Podcast Episode Behind the Scenes with the Strata Trap Reporter, and it’s well worth listening to hear and understand what he has to say.
Linton has now moved on to bigger [and arguably better] things as the host of ABC’s Media Watch.
So, maybe strata stakeholders don’t need to worry about sitting across the table from his gotcha questions in an interview in 2025.
But that doesn’t mean it’s over. And, nor should it be, as there are new people at ABC News and elsewhere continuing his work.
There’ll be more of them.
FRIENDS, FOES OR BOTH?
So, were and are Linton, the other journalists, the strata commentators, publishers and podcasters, the strata consumer and advocate groups, and strata goods and service suppliers looking into and writing, talking and vlogging about strata title misdeeds, friends or foes.
Sure, what they’re revealing has negative impacts on strata managers and the reputation and status of the entire strata title sector. That isn’t great for the strata stakeholders that are exposed and, because of the ‘tarring with the same brush effect’, others that aren’t exposed or [sometimes] aren’t doing the same.
So, from that perspective, they’re foes.
But it also helps those strata stakeholders who have suffered and are suffering the negative impacts of those strata misdeeds. And, the exposure may change things for the better.
So, from that perspective, they’re friends.
And, sure, those people and organisations are doing this to advance their business, political, personal and moral interests by writing, talking and more.
So, from that perspective, they’re self interested.
But regardless of the harms, benefits and self interests, journalists like Linton Besser, strata commentators like GoStrata Media, and the suppliers of strata goods and services [we won’t single anyone out here] exist to do their own things too; just like everyone person, organisation and business in the strata title sector.
CONCLUSIONS
It’s really up to each of you as strata citizens to listen or watch, consider and decide what you think about what anyone reveals, says, thinks and does.
I welcome all words and talk and hope to read, hear and see more.
And, so should all strata citizens regardless of their roles and self interest.
April 23, 2025
Francesco ...