ABSTRACT
This chapter explores disruption in the residential strata tower sector. It also explores how law and policy have addressed these issues, defines gaps in the existing regulatory regime, and offers some reciprocal lessons for comparative jurisdictions facing disruptive challenges in high-rise strata towers. The chapter argues that whilst Melbourne’s strata towers are relatively new, the volume of such tenure in Victoria, especially Melbourne and its surroundings, demands these issues must be successfully addressed. Land use planning and development has always been highly regulated in Melbourne. The Owners Corporations (OC) Act covers the law and governance for tower buildings but also for medium-rise, town houses, and mixed-use buildings. The OC is under a duty to ensure the development is run effectively and in a transparent fashion. The OC Act carries a robust dispute resolution process, which strives to address disputes internally between unit owners/occupiers as well as between the OC and service providers.
