Perth’s new apartment market recorded its strongest quarter of sales since Q4 2021, with 412 apartments sold in Q1 2026 and a record quarterly sold value of $537 million, according to Urbis’ latest Apartment Essentials results.

Urbis said the March quarter result reflects strong, highly product‑specific demand across both ends of the market, from more attainable projects delivering at scale, through to premium stock being absorbed by equity‑rich downsizers.&nbsp;

David Cresp, Partner at Urbis, said the key story in Perth is not demand, it is the market’s ability to convert demand into delivered housing.&nbsp;

“This is the strongest sales quarter since Q4 2021, and it reinforces that demand in Perth is real and it’s local,” David Cresp said. “But the task now is delivery, turning that demand into projects that can actually be built and completed.”&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=110291 project_image_fid=302785]

<h2>Affordable product leads, premium demand remains resilient</h2>

Sales in Q1 were led by more affordable projects, with The Boulevard (SKS Group) recording 115 sales in the quarter, the presentation noting this is only the second time a single project has surpassed 100 quarterly sales. The project was able to offer more affordable housing product right next to a train station.&nbsp;

Palmyra West (Finbar) also delivered strong results with 28 sales in Q1, following 84 sales in Q4, with an average price of under $800,000, underscoring depth of demand for well‑located, attainable new stock.&nbsp;

At the premium end, Urbis said downsizer demand is continuing, with the results highlighting Romeo (Applecross, Finbar) recording 75 sales and reaching almost 50% sold in one quarter.

Jual (Shenton Park, Celsius Property) also posted a strong quarter with 28 sales, reaching 39% sold in one quarter.

Urbis noted that Perth apartment demand is not speculative, not investor‑led, and not uniform, describing it as localised, often equity‑driven and highly product‑specific, a pattern reflected in the polarisation between strong “attainable” performers and premium downsizer product.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=148957 project_image_fid=364102]

<h2>Prices underpinned by costs, and the delivery risk is growing</h2>

Urbis said pricing pressure is cost not demand‑driven: construction costs and delivery risk are now a central constraint, with the results noting build costs remain elevated and volatile, and that energy, fuel and labour uncertainty weigh on feasibility.

David Cresp said a growing challenge for private Build‑to‑Sell developers is simply securing a builder in the current environment.

“Developers are really feeling the pressure from a building market that was operating at capacity and securing a builder is challenging,” David Cresp said, adding that even where a builder can be secured, “trying to get to the price that makes the development financially viable is incredibly challenging in the current market.”&nbsp;

Urbis’ broader WA commentary also notes that industry remains at or above capacity with lot and housing creation, and that many builders are limiting new sales to manage stretched workforces and fixed‑price contract pressures, conditions that flow directly into apartment feasibility and delivery timing.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=108869 project_image_fid=317905]

<h2>Supply: improving later, but still constrained, and Perth lags eastern benchmarks</h2>

While near‑term supply remains constrained, Urbis’ forecast shows completions lifting “Supply is forecast to be back above 1,500 apartments per annum for the first time since 2019”, with 1,775 completions forecast for 2026, and volumes remaining above that level over the following years.&nbsp;

Looking further ahead, completions are forecast to reach 2,500 in 2028, with the report noting 32% of that total is social/affordable, reflecting the role of government‑supported delivery in rebuilding the pipeline.&nbsp;

However, Urbis said Perth remains behind comparable markets on pipeline scale. In a national comparison of projects under construction, the report shows under construction Perth Build‑to‑Sell (BTS) at 3,446 apartments versus the Gold Coast at 7,922. Mr Cresp said “The challenge for Perth is how to we grow the delivery pipeline”.

Urbis’ conclusion is that Perth’s market is increasingly defined by product discipline and delivery certainty, with the research identifying “delivery certainty is key” and calling out builder risk and procurement models as core success factors, alongside “timing and staging”.&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

Perth apartment sales hit strongest pace since late 2021 as builder capacity tightens

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/sammut-developments">Sammut Group</a> has secured development approval for its latest Brisbane apartment project, marking the Sydney developer’s next step in expanding its Queensland pipeline following the success of its debut Gold Coast development, Coast.

The approved project at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/44-glen-road-toowong-qld-4066">44 Glen Road, </a><a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/toowong-qld-4066">Toowong</a> will deliver a 15-storey riverfront apartment building with 42 residences, significantly increasing the scale of the site’s previous approval for a smaller luxury scheme. Designed by Bureau^proberts, the development will comprise a mix of predominantly four-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments positioned to maximise Brisbane River and city views.

Sammut Director Julian Sammut said the group had been actively searching Brisbane for several years before identifying Toowong as the right fit.

“Brisbane was the right step for Sammut,” Sammut said.

“With the success of Coast we thought we should definitely look to do more in Queensland alone. We then pushed up to look at Brisbane. We've been looking for I'd say two to three years actually and it was hard to find the right location.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.14%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=dYAVIL7qdcGA8ojvkslSrLjczXFejSSx" />

Sammut said suburbs including New Farm and Teneriffe were considered before the group ultimately focused on Toowong due to its strong downsizer demographic and limited supply of developable riverfront land.

The site was acquired off-market after what Sammut described as a lengthy negotiation and planning process, with the developer pursuing an uplift to the original approval.

“We are DA approved now which is very exciting,” Sammut said.

“We've had our change approval come through and we've obviously doubled the height, 15 storeys plus rooftop. We've got 42 amazing apartments that are going to be coming to market soon.”

<img alt="Sammut makes Brisbane apartment play" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/c_scale,w_580,dpr_2.0,q_auto:good/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202025-12-23%20at%203.27.26%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=ohkRkY0dIZlqdfME2EZePsCQavRiBadE" />

Bureau^proberts said the design responds to Toowong’s evolving urban character, balancing contemporary apartment living with the area’s established residential identity.

“A place where traditional Queensland living has taken place for centuries; Toowong is seeing a shift of contemporary influence, commercial and retail hubs mixed with well-considered residential offerings – all the while maintaining its character and charm,” the architect noted in planning documents submitted to Brisbane City Council.

The architecture practice said the project’s form was shaped by its riverfront setting, flood considerations, neighbouring building scales, and view corridors.

“They said the mix of four and two-bedroom apartments capture the ‘fundamental qualities of Queenslander living,’ translated into the context of a contemporary subtropical building.”

The development sits just off Coronation Drive within walking distance of Toowong’s retail precinct and the upgraded Regatta ferry terminal, while also benefiting from proximity to the incoming green bridge connection to West End. Sammut said the accessibility and amenity offering were central to the site’s appeal.

The approval adds to growing residential activity along the Toowong riverfront, joining nearby projects including Consolidated Properties’ Monarch Residences and Spyre Group’s ARC Residences.

Sammut secures approval for debut Brisbane apartment development in Toowong

Developer Lanevick is heading back into Sydney’s apartment market after focusing more heavily on the luxury townhouse and terrace sector in recent years.

Lanevick, founded and directed by Steve Maroun, is expecting to receive approval in the coming months for a new apartment development in Gladesville, with the aim to launch it to the market later this year.

The 51-apartment project, designed by Studio Johnston, will comprise a mix of one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments positioned toward the Hunters Hill downsizer market.

“Traditionally it’s been difficult for people in that market to downsize because there just hasn’t been the right product available,” Maroun said.

“We’re targeting buyers who might have 30 to 40 per cent of their house value sitting in the bank after downsizing.

“They still want good spacious entertaining areas, they still want quality design, but they also want flexibility and the ability to enjoy life a bit more after working hard for a long time.”

The project sits near Boronia Park and within close proximity to the Parramatta River foreshore, an area Maroun says offers more of a Hunters Hill lifestyle than a traditional apartment precinct.

“From a lifestyle perspective, it’s really more Hunters Hill than Gladesville,” Maroun said. “You’re close to the foreshore, close to parklands, and still connected back into the village precinct.”

From level four and above, apartments will capture water views&nbsp;toward Sydney Harbour. Communal amenity will include rooftop entertaining areas, wellness spaces, and a gym tailored toward owner-occupier buyers.

“We’ve really designed these apartments around that buyer coming from the Hunters Hill LGA and what they’re actually looking for in their next chapter.”

The proposed development has also been designed to respond to the changing character of the broader Gladesville town centre, where a growing number of mixed-use and residential proposals are expected to emerge over the coming years.

“Gladesville presented a rare opportunity to deliver a genuinely design-led residential project within an evolving lifestyle precinct, just moments from the growing Gladesville town centre, and we’ve approached the project with a strong focus on architecture, liveability and long-term community value,” Maroun said.

Maroun said Lanevick saw a first-mover advantage within the precinct as planning controls continue to evolve to accommodate greater housing density.

“We think there’s a real opportunity there that hasn’t really been serviced properly yet,” he said.

“There’s going to be a broader evolution of the whole Gladesville village precinct over time, particularly with more activation and mixed-use outcomes.”

The Venus Street proposal will include a commercial and retail component at ground level designed to contribute to that evolving streetscape activation.

“A big part of the thinking was how do you activate that area properly and create more vibrancy and amenity, which is what Hunters Hill has been looking for,” Maroun said.

Lanevick’s focus since 2020 has largely been on smaller-scale luxury townhouse and terrace developments. The developer recently completed Royale Randwick, also designed by Studio Johnston, where prices reached $3.65 million. The project was featured in the UDIA NSW 2026 Professional Development Prospectus and was also named a finalist for Development of the Year.

&nbsp;

Lanevick to cater for Hunters Hill downsizers with new Gladesville apartment development

Property developer One Living, backed by former Macquarie banker turned investment manager Chris Green’s investment firm, has unveiled plans to bring more institutional capital into housing to help address the national supply crisis.

The New York-based investor has focused his firm, GreenPoint Partners, on addressing the supply shortage hitting middle market housing in Australia.

It is backing the new One Living business to develop more than 1000 units along the eastern seaboard. The new firm is starting with a development on Mona Vale Road, on the border of Mona Vale and Pymble, in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, with around 140 apartments planned. They are eyeing off more sites across the city.

With cost pressures rising in the industry, One Living’s model is to be a vertically integrated developer-builder, so it can respond directly to the housing gap by removing the cost inefficiencies embedded in traditional residential delivery.

“We are building a platform designed to operate at scale and starting in a market where there’s a clear need for quality, attainable housing,” One Living joint managing director Joseph Scuderi said.

“It’s that missing middle – it’s that attainable end of housing… that’s what most Australians invest into and what Australians can actually afford.”

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="798dfa93-4941-4db6-a696-31e9dc18e81c" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.31.50%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=mKBqi5C_DmeiXS.AtJkcR8LQIxqCqmFi" />

GreenPoint Partners brings years of experience assembling and scaling real estate operating businesses across major markets. And Green sees a big opportunity in Australia.

“For its size, sophistication and importance to the community, Australia’s living sector has remained largely under-institutionalised, which represents significant opportunity,” Green said. “GreenPoint identified that gap, assembled the right team, and is backing One Living to build a platform that is aligned to market needs.”

Green said being a builder-developer would give the company the capacity and flexibility it required to deliver reasonably-priced homes.

“We want it to be at that attainable level; not super high end luxury but at that attainable level,” he said.

<img alt="Mona Vale" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="74a5344a-4b26-4d4a-ada3-056b1220be77" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-05-28%20at%202.32.15%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=vY8hXHO4reBMdO8ZXMWCNtGZJofUPQ3j" />

&nbsp;

One Living will undertake a component of affordable housing in its schemes, which it will own and operate, and it could also run build-to-rent on some sites.

Green praised local policy settings.

“The NSW government is being very supportive, strategic and pragmatic in terms of how do we generate more supply of housing,” he said. “We think it’s actually positive for development and the bit that’s been lacking at that attainable level is that it’s lots of relatively small private developers, whereas we want to create an institutional platform.”

One Living is also&nbsp;looking at high-density projects and could take on more institutional funding in the future.

“The way we will be able to achieve economies of scale is through size,” Green added.

One Living enters Sydney's new apartment market with Northern Beaches site acquisition

It's been several years since there's been an opportunity to buy a brand new townhome in Melbourne's coastal suburb of Mordialloc. Even apartment developments in recent times have been few and far between in the area.

Local developer LDS Property identified the gap in new housing, securing a site on White Street, directly opposite&nbsp;Woodlands Golf Club Mordialloc. They've recently launched&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-townhouses/wm-residences-mordialloc-102-white-street-mordialloc-vic-3195">WM Residences</a>, just 13 townhouses which they have already started building.

Projects by Buxton Director Heath Thompson, who is selling WM Residences, says the townhouses x that perfect middle ground be

"Mordialloc residents have had limited options to downsize within the suburb, often forcing them to look elsewhere despite long-standing ties to the area," Thompson says.

"With very little comparable new supply coming to market, projects like WM Residences are well placed, particularly as buyers look to capitalise on current conditions amid constrained supply."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6109]

The development, designed by regarded architecture firm&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/ewert-leaf">Ewert Leaf</a>,&nbsp;adopts a deliberately restrained architectural approach, focusing on simplicity, durability and liveability rather than overt design gestures.

The boutique scale is central to the offering. With only 13 three-bedroom residences, each home is configured to prioritise functional layouts and everyday use, supported by private terraces and secure two-car garages.

Ewert Leaf’s design response leans into a calm, neutral material palette. Interiors are defined by oak flooring, white walls and soft finishes, creating a consistent and understated backdrop. The approach avoids trend-driven detailing in favour of longevity, with an emphasis on natural light and spatial clarity.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6110]

Beyond aesthetics, the homes are designed to meet contemporary performance expectations. Each residence targets a minimum 6-star energy rating, incorporating double glazing, comprehensive insulation and all-electric Bosch appliances.

The project’s location supports a walkable coastal lifestyle, sitting within close proximity to Mordialloc’s foreshore, Main Street retail strip and the train station. Local cafés and dining venues, including Suburbia Deli and Hendriks Café, are within a short walk, reinforcing the area’s established neighbourhood character.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=134646 project_image_fid=6116]

While <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/mordialloc-vic-3195">Mordialloc</a> is often defined by its beach and pier, the project taps into other areas of day to day living, offering easy access to local food, casual dining and transport, rather than positioning itself purely as a lifestyle retreat.

WM Residences reflects a continued trend across Melbourne’s coastal suburbs towards smaller-scale, design-led townhouse developments, particularly on infill sites where proximity to amenity is already established.

With construction commenced prior to its market entry, the project aligns with a growing preference among buyers for developments with visible progress and defined delivery timeframes.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=134646]

WM Residences fills gap in Mordialloc townhouse market

Mascot Towers

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Things are going from bad to worse for the 132 owners in the defective Mascot Towers complex in Sydney.
Residents were <a href="/news/mascot-towers-residents-await-causes-of-cracking">evacuated in June</a> after cracking in its beams forced them out.
Now there are more cracks appearing, and the already noted cracks are getting wider.
Urgent repairs are now required to avoid a structural failure.
Owners and residents were updated by a structural engineer commissioned by law firm Mills Oakley yesterday. 
They raised a significant concern toward  an increased cracking in the basement footing slab which supports the towers.
“(We) have been advised that remediation of the bearing capacity of the soil underneath the slab is now required on an urgent basis so as to avoid a structural failure in the north eastern tower one corner,” the advice reads.
Cracks currently range between 0.2 and 0.5 millimetres.
“It is our current view that once the cracking reaches 0.8mm the structure would be deemed unsafe,” the structural engineer warned.
Sky News advised residents are not expected to return this year. 
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/NzTplQHydSU" frameborder="0" width="360" height="315"></iframe> Source: Sky News.
Earlier in the year it was suggested the neighbouring Peak Towers apartment block, developed by Aland, had affected Mascot Towers, a sentiment which engineering consultants agreed with.
Aland <a href="/news/not-us-says-aland-as-mascot-towers-crack-concerns-investigated-in-2011">rubbished the claims in June</a> and reportedly denied lawyers representing the Mascot owners corporation <a href="/news/aland-deny-any-mascot-towers-culpability-but-refuse-access-to-neighbours">entry to the building</a>.
Residents told how the basement carpark was flooded during the Peak Towers excavation.
The Mascot Tower was developed by the Elias family to a design by architect Krikis Tayler.
In the 2006 off the plan marketing prices started at $340,000 for a 72 sqm one-bed unit, from $450,000 for a 97sqm two-bed unit with two car spaces, and from $800,000 for 139sqm and three beds, also with two car spaces.
 
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jrobinson-rf4aSBido9

Mascot Towers cracks get bigger, with structural failure now feared

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The NSW Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson has suggested displaced residents of Mascot Towers had devised a scheme to secure more taxpayers' money.
The minister said owners had the option of taking out a loan over many years but instead decided at its recent special strata meeting to raise special levies, only to then say they could not afford the repayments.
Owners in the apartment block need to start paying levies of between $5000 and $14,000 a month for the next nine months to stabilise the building.
Mascot Towers owners have said they were "absolutely gutted" after Anderson's suggestion.
Mr Anderson told Parliament on Wednesday that the owners had "flip-flopped" over their options to fund essential remediation work on the cracked building which they evacuated in June.
Since the extraordinary general meeting last month, many owners found banks would not allow them to re-borrow any money.
They are now instead pleading for low-interest loans from the government.
"To say we had a conspiracy to force the government into a corner, or words to that effect, is just absolutely gutting for us," one owner told Domain.
<div class="_1665V undefined">
Labor's spokeswoman for building reform Yasmin Catley said the residents deserved an apology from Mr Anderson after his comments.
"These people have not, under circumstances, sought a hand-out from this government," she said.
"What they have done is ask for assistance purely and simply because they have no other option."
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j.ballantyne1990-6AQqhLzZaK

Mascot Towers residents accused of devising a scheme to secure taxpayers' money

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The developer of an apartment block neighbouring the beleaguered Mascot Towers has disputed claims it could be to blame for the building's cracks.
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<div id="article-titan-mobile-pos1" class="advertisement">The Mascot Towers residents have been presented preliminary findings from a report into what may have caused the cracking, but the case has not been expressly pinpointed.</div>
<div class="advertisement"> </div>
<div class="advertisement">A meeting that lasted nearly 5 hours was held on Thursday night, attended by more than 300 people who were evacuated on June 14 due to worsening cracking and movements that date back many years.</div>
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There had been earlier engineering advice that potentially linked the building's issues partly to Aland's next-door development called Peak Towers.
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<div class="assets">
But Aland on Friday said it was "completely confident that an independent investigation will confirm that the failures at Mascot Towers are unrelated to construction nearby."
</div>
<div class="assets">
"We believe the comments of the building commissioner at the NSW parliamentary inquiry support Aland's contention that the problems at Mascot Towers pre-date any work undertaken by Aland."
</div>
<div class="assets">
After visiting Mascot Towers last week, the newly appointed building commissioner David Chandler told an upper house committee that he'd not seen many building as poorly built.
</div>
<div class="assets">
"I'm quite certain the builder didn't know how to read any construction plans because the faults that are in that building are simply someone who didn't pay any attention to them," Mr Chandler told MPs.
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<div class="assets">
A dilapidation report prepared in 2017 for Aland's pending construction found parts of the Mascot Towers complex were in "reasonable-to-poor" prior to the construction of Peak Towers.
</div>
<div class="assets">
It noted cases of cracking, material loss, material separation and efflorescence - the deposit of white crystalline salts on concrete.
The Daily Telegraph reported Aland rejected a request for access­ from lawyers representing the Mascot owners corporation for access because it “did not demonstrate a genuine need from an engineering perspective as to why it was required”.
“The information sought could either have been obtained­ from plans and associated reports relating to Peak Towers, or bore no relevance to the access that was requested,” it said.
Legal proceedings <a href="/news/not-us-says-aland-as-mascot-towers-crack-concerns-investigated-in-2011">against the adjacent ALAND-built Peak Towers building</a> are being considered after engineers were denied access to the site.  
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Aland deny any Mascot Towers culpability but refuse access to neighbours

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Residents of Sydney’s Mascot Towers won't return to their apartments until 2020.
The earliest timeline is January 2020 while the crack remediation work proceeds.
Residents of the complex’s 132 apartments were <a href="/news/mascot-towers-residents-await-causes-of-cracking">evacuated in mid-June</a>.
They have since been living in <a href="/news/mascot-towers-residents-given-temporary-accommodation-assistance-by-nsw-government">temporary accommodation</a>.
Engineers investigating the cause of the problems told last night's extraordinary general meeting of unit owners that some residents
The main item on the EGM agenda was vote on a special levy to pay for remediation work on the complex.
It was for the first of four stages.
The meeting voted to raise a special $7 million levy on the decade-old building which is no longer covered under warranty for major defects, which expires after six years in NSW. 
The quote from Sydney engineers Top Consulting covered fixing general defects, water­proofing and rectification work on an expansion joint and transfer beam. 
Earlier on Thursday, residents were told the NSW government has agreed to extend rental assistance for the displaced residents another six months, out to March 2020, subject to an agreed funding deed.
“The decision has been made following a meeting between the building commissioner, strata manager, building manager and engineers which has led to a more focused line of inquiry for the root cause of the issues faced by the buildings,” Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson said in a statement.
Legal proceedings <a href="/news/not-us-says-aland-as-mascot-towers-crack-concerns-investigated-in-2011">against the adjacent ALAND-built Peak Towers building</a> are being considered after engineers were denied access to the site. 
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No return to Mascot Towers until 2020

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The local council have revealed its was responsible for certifying Sydney's defective residential building Mascot Towers for occupation.
It came ahead of the push by the NSW government for private certifiers to sign off new apartment high-rise construction.
The planning documents, which were held in storage at Newcastle, show the then Botany Bay council issued a final occupation certificate to the developer J &amp; B Elias in July 2008.
The council, now known as Bayside, was the principal certifying authority appointed under the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.
The former state minister for Better Regulation, Matt Kean, had suggested some of the state's troubled apartment complexes arose following "dodgy" private certifiers having conflicts of interests with developers.
The council development approvals at Mascot Towers came when the local member Ron Hoenig was the mayor.
Now the local MP for Heffron which includes Mascot, Hoenig says the council thoroughly considered all planning requirements for Mascot Towers.
The current mayor Bill Saravinovski says council only became aware of the cracks last month, although the building defects emerged in 2011 just three years after completion.
 
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Mascot Towers certified for occupation by local council

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EXPERT OBSERVER
Property buyers are now well aware of the building defects disasters seen in Opal Tower and Mascot Towers. But the reality is that any building could hide big issues from potential buyers, meaning that people could land in a nightmare scenario, even if they had carried out all possible checks.
While Owners Corporations are obliged by law to keep records, the law doesn’t say that they have to be complete, accurate or true.
Right now, Owners corporations are outsourcing their record keeping to strata mangers, and in many cases the record keeping is poor. There are no consistent standards, and records often disappear when they are transferred from one strata manager to another. The industry should be doing something about it, and laws need to be tougher. 
In recent inspections of strata records, EYEON Property Inspections has seen the following examples of altered and incomplete records:
<ul type="disc">
<li class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst">Strata committee altering general meeting minutes to change decisions made by a majority of owners</li>
<li class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle">No information provided in records of the status of building rectification works</li>
<li class="x_MsoListParagraphCxSpLast">Recent records of building defects “lost” on transfer from previous strata manager.</li>
</ul>
In the property podcast, The Elephant in The Room, a Sydney Strata Manager said she comes across Strata Committees who don’t want certain information to be included in the minutes because it would negatively affect property values.
She said that if she isn’t comfortable with the minutes or disagrees with the included information, she won’t include her logo on it. She knows the minutes are wrong but is powerless to ensure the correct information goes in the records. She can’t stop the owners creating false records.
Strata records need to be better. Strata managers should have consistent record keeping systems and the transfer of records should be audited. Owners corporations should always have their own copy of all records. There should be severe penalties for non-disclosure of information.
Otherwise, how can property buyers trust the information they are provided?
The bottom line is that if there are gaps in records or the detail about current issues is sparse, buyers need to be cautious. These issues should be red flags and buyers should consider making lower offers or walking away from a property if the strata records are poor.  In some cases, current owners might be trying to get out of the building before major issues become public knowledge.
Michael Ferrier is the managing director at EYEON Property Inspections.
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Think strata construction is bad? Strata records are worse

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Sydney’s Mascot Towers appears to be “moving in a downward motion”, according to the building’s co-ordinating engineer. 
<div class="story-content">
The 10-year-old building was evacuated after engineers became concerned about continued cracking in support structure and facade masonry.
Mascot Towers’ co-ordinating engineer has now identified a new issue along the northern and eastern boundaries of the complex.
“It appears that the building is moving in a downward motion,” an update sent to residents and owners on Monday night said.
The update didn’t elaborate on “downward motion”.
</div>
The residents of Mascot Towers where forcibly evacuated from their homes late June 14th 2019 because their building started developing alarming cracking on its structure.
A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/mascot-towers-emergency-fund" target="_blank">Go-Fund-Me campaign</a> has been created by a resident of Mascot Towers with the goal of raising 1$ million.
The creator said, "We plan to use the kind donations to help everyone in the building start the work on stabilizing the structural defects as well as investigate what went wrong."
"This is only the start for us, we face massive repair costs that could reach $6+ Million."
"The residents are faced with a $1 million cost just to get back home, this has to be paid by 1st August 2019," they added.
The latest news to come from the building is that it is 'sinking'.
Residents who aren't able to get back in to their unsafe apartments in Mascot Towers have been given access to temporary residential accommodation assistance by the NSW Government.
The government will supply emergency financial support to the Mascot Towers Owners Corporation.
Residents of a one bedroom unit will be able to access funding for accommodation of up to $220 per night. Two bedroom apartment residents will be able to get $300 per night and there is up to $400 per night for a three-bedroom unit, all paid subject to actual costs incurred. 
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said residents of the 132 units would temporarily be able to access financial support for incurred accommodation expenses whilst engineers determine the root cause of the issues. 
The Go-Fund-Me campaign has only reached $4,450 as of 10:00 June 25 2019.
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Mascot Towers residents seek $1 million through Go-Fund-Me campaign

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Residents who aren't able to get back in to their unsafe apartments in Mascot Towers have been given access to temporary residential accommodation assistance by the NSW Government.
The government will supply emergency financial support to the Mascot Towers Owners Corporation.
Residents of a one bedroom unit will be able to access funding for accommodation of up to $220 per night. Two bedroom apartment residents will be able to get $300 per night and there is up to $400 per night for a three-bedroom unit, all paid subject to actual costs incurred. 
Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation Kevin Anderson said residents of the 132 units would temporarily be able to access financial support for incurred accommodation expenses whilst engineers determine the root cause of the issues. 
“The residents of the Mascot Towers are facing exceptional circumstances with a long wait to understand what has caused this problem," Anderson said.
"That’s why the Government is providing residents and owners some certainty by helping them meet the cost of emergency accommodation until liability can be determined and these costs recovered. 
“Whilst residents wait for advice from specialist engineers on the root cause of the problem, we are taking decisive action to ensure all residents of the complex, both home owners and tenants, are not left out in the cold. 
“I hope that this package will also help ease some of the stress that has no doubt been felt by the Strata Manager and volunteer Strata Committee, who have worked tirelessly to support residents in these exceptional circumstances.” 
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Mascot Towers residents given temporary accommodation assistance by NSW Government

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<div>The first official recognition of basement cracks at Mascot Towers came in 2011, three years after the apartment block's completion.</div>

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<div>There are strata minutes for the building showing that in March 2011 the owners had an extraordinary general meeting to commission engineer MES Consulting to investigate defects.</div>

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<div>It was following the discovery of basement cracks and leaks in the carwash bay.</div>

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The report into the building at 1-5 Bourke Street was completed by MES Consulting in 2011.

In October 2011 the minutes of an owner's corporation executive committee meeting show more serious defects were discovered including structural movements around the property.

There was also swimming pool leakages.
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Consulting plumbers also identified that no hot water pumps had been installed to drive heated water into the upper levels resulting in poor pressure in upper levels, the documents said.

Builder J &amp; B Elias agreed to fix the defects at no cost to the owners, and a "spirit of co-operation of existed between the owner's corporation and the builder".

However, the defects returned after the repairs.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=7317]

"The committee noted its serious concerns in the builder's commitment and ability to address these issues," documents said.

J &amp; B Elias could not be contacted by The Australian Financial Review ahead of its latest article on the tower that was finally evacuated last Friday night.

Aland Developments, developer of the tower next door, Peak Towers, told The Australian Financial Review they too discovered the existing defects in Mascot Towers ahead of starting their recently completed construction at Peak Towers.

Owners want to seek compensation from the builders and service providers constructing the tower next door, Peak Towers at 27 Church Avenue, alleging the problems were caused by works being done.

Photos from Aland's pre-construction 2017 dilapidation report conducted by an engineering consultancy reportedly show the same cracks that are now seen in the tower's basement.

"The dilapidation report from Australian Consulting Engineers as well as revelations of legal action by the owners corporation of Mascot Towers against several parties including an engineering firm over 'new slip joint defects' as far back as July last year confirm the structural issues with Mascot Towers is completely unrelated to work on Aland's Peak Towers," Aland Developments managing director Andrew Hrsto said.

"We have intentionally limited our commentary about the structural damage to Mascot towers to date to allow the independent technical investigation being undertaken to run its course without interference.

"However, we feel compelled to respond to some of the reckless commentary and speculation in recent days that has sought to pre-empt and in some cases shape the outcome of investigations."

Residents and owner in the damaged Mascot Towers want the NSW Premier to take a larger role.
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Not us says Aland, as Mascot Towers crack concerns investigated in 2011

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The owners of evacuated residential tower Mascot Towers in Sydney, who face an immediate $1 million rectification levy, decided last year to take legal action against the developer of an adjoining building Aland Developments and Bayside Council seeking compensation for slip-joint defects.
Owners started the process of pursuing Aland in the middle of 2018 to rectify cracks in the building and units said to be caused by the construction of the neighbouring apartment building Peak Towers at 27 Church Avenue.
The building management issued an update on Monday, saying that meetings are organised for Thursday to discuss reports about the structure.
The email confirmed that a claim on the building's insurance policy for temporary accommodation had been declined, as many of the Mascot Towers residents remain in limbo since Friday's evacuation.
Last Thursday Mascot Tower residents received a notice from Strata Choice outlining that planned installation of temporary building propping to help fix "a slip joint defect" in the car park had been brought forward.
But on Friday evening Mascot Tower residents received a second notice saying units would need to be evacuated that night by 9pm.
The building was constructed in 2008, more than six years ago, meaning owners are not covered under building and construction warranty.
The Mascot Towers, designed by architect Krikis Tayler and developed by the Elias family, sits above the train station, but State Transport confirmed there was no impact on the airport rail line or Mascot train station below the complex.
The Daily Telegraph reported details of the special levy on the 122 apartments that will 'perform urgent repair and maintenance."
 
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