Every manager is verified before they can quote. Local Strata Manager checks ABN, professional indemnity insurance, public liability insurance, state licensing where required, SCA membership where applicable, at least one current-client reference and complaints history. Verification is repeated annually and about 62% of applicants do not make the cut.
Vetting is the eligibility gateway to quoting on Local Strata Manager. Here is exactly what is checked, how often it is rechecked, when a manager can be removed, and what your committee should still verify before signing.
Before a strata manager can quote through Local Strata Manager, the platform checks key business, insurance, professional and service-quality information.
The verification process covers the manager's Australian Business Number, professional indemnity insurance, public liability insurance, state licensing where required, Strata Community Association membership where applicable, current-client references and complaints history.
Verification is repeated annually, and a manager may be removed if required insurance lapses, a licence is suspended or substantiated complaints indicate that the manager no longer meets the platform's standards.
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Yes. A manager must pass the verification process before their quote can reach an owner or committee.
This is different from a general online directory where a business may create a profile without a document or reference check.
Human verification complements the platform's matching process: technology identifies potentially suitable managers, while the verification process checks whether the provider meets the platform's participation requirements.
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The Australian Business Number helps identify the legal business behind the management proposal.
The platform checks that the submitted ABN is valid and corresponds with the relevant business details. Owners should still confirm that the name on the quote and management agreement matches the legal entity they intend to appoint.
An ABN confirms business registration information, but it is not by itself proof of strata management competence, insurance or licensing.
Professional indemnity insurance may respond to certain claims arising from errors, omissions or professional services, subject to the policy wording.
Because strata managers handle funds, records, meetings, compliance and contractor instructions, professional mistakes can create significant costs for an owners corporation.
The vetting process checks that the manager has current cover. Before final appointment, the committee may also ask for the certificate of currency, policy limit and expiry date.
Public liability insurance is checked separately because it addresses different risks from professional indemnity cover. It may respond to covered claims involving third-party injury or property damage connected with the insured business's activities.
Holding both policies does not guarantee that every claim will be covered. The policy terms, limits, excesses and exclusions remain important.
No. Licensing and registration requirements differ across Australia.
Local Strata Manager checks state licensing where it is legally required and describes its wider check as state-Act compliance. A licence in one state should not be assumed to authorise work in another jurisdiction.
The profile should identify the state or territory in which the manager operates and the verification completed for that jurisdiction.
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Professional membership is useful evidence of industry participation, but it should not be confused with a government licence.
The platform checks SCA membership where applicable, and the manager's profile should make clear whether membership has been verified.
Owners should consider membership alongside licensing, insurance, experience, references, service capacity and contract terms rather than treating it as the only quality test.
The platform requires at least one current-client reference before a manager can quote and may consider additional references as part of the review.
A useful reference should come from a scheme the manager currently services and should help confirm the provider's communication, reliability, financial administration and ability to manage a comparable building.
Committees considering final appointment should ask for references from schemes similar in lot count, age, building type and complexity. Useful questions for a client reference include:
The platform considers available complaint information and substantiated concerns when deciding whether a manager meets its standards.
A complaint is not automatically proof of wrongdoing. The nature, evidence, outcome, frequency and seriousness of the issue matter.
A manager who accumulates substantiated complaints may be removed. Owners should report genuine concerns with supporting documents so they can be assessed fairly.
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