WA: Q&A Do strata managers have a contractual obligation to attend SAT meetings?

This article is about whether strata managers are contractually required to attend a SAT hearing with the council of owners or if their attendance is optional.

Question: Are strata managers contractually obliged to attend a SAT meeting with a representative from the council of owners, or are they within their rights to say they will not be attending?

Answer: A strata manager is not contractually required to attend a SAT hearing unless specified in the agreement or ordered to appear as a witness.

Strata managers do not have a contractual obligation to attend a SAT meeting, unless there is an order requiring their attendance by a party or the Tribunal, as a witness.

The Strata Management Agreement between the owners of the scheme and the strata manager may delegate some of the functions of the scheme to the strata manager, but the key term is ‘may’. The contract will outline agreed-upon services, typically accompanied by a price and a list of additional services. SAT meetings would be an additional service, and the obligation to attend would be optional, with an additional cost.

Whilst it may be beneficial to have the strata manager at the SAT meeting, generally, they cannot make decisions on behalf of the scheme, and the council of owners should attend. Alternatively, if the council wishes to appoint a representative, a lawyer, strata consultant, or mediator would be more appropriate.

Jamie Horner
Empire Estate Agents
E: JHorner@empireestateagents.com
P: (08) 9262 0400

This post appears in the September 2025 edition of The WA Strata Magazine.

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