Reviewed and updated 14-10-2026. From 01-10-2026, 2-lot schemes no longer lodge the Strata Hub annual return, so this article has been updated. We also corrected the legal reference and removed details we could not verify (the list of information reported, penalty amounts and who must lodge).
Most NSW strata schemes must lodge an annual return on the NSW Government's Strata Hub within 3 months of their annual general meeting. The exception, from 1 October 2026, is 2-lot schemes — they no longer have to lodge. Here's how it works for the schemes we manage.
What is Strata Hub?
Strata Hub is the NSW Government's online strata platform. Schemes use it to report information about the scheme each year, and since 1 October 2026 it is also where new committee members complete their compulsory training.
The annual return
The Regulation requires the owners corporation of every strata scheme, other than a scheme of 2 lots, to give the required information each year (Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016 cl 43(1)). It is headline information about the scheme, not the full financial statements — check Strata Hub for the current list.
For every scheme we manage at Townhouse Strata, we prepare and lodge the return on behalf of the owners corporation as part of our standard service, and we check the details with you.
When is it due?
The return must be lodged within 3 months of the scheme's AGM. If your AGM is in March, the return is due by the end of June. If your AGM is in October, it's due by the end of January.
The fee
A fee is payable by the owners corporation when the return is lodged. It changes from time to time, so check Strata Hub for the current amount. For schemes we manage, we arrange payment from the administrative fund.
2-lot schemes — no longer required
From 1 October 2026, a strata scheme of 2 lots no longer lodges the annual return, and Strata Hub has removed the reporting function for those schemes. That means no annual return and no Strata Hub fee for 2-lot schemes.
Committee training on Strata Hub
Committee members appointed on or after 1 October 2026 (other than in 2-lot schemes and a few other exempt cases) must complete the free online training on Strata Hub within 3 months of appointment. New members need to register on Strata Hub first, and sign-in now uses multi-factor authentication.
What this means for your scheme
For self-managed schemes: this is one of the most commonly missed compliance items. If you're running your scheme without a managing agent, log in to Strata Hub now and confirm every return is up to date.
For schemes considering switching managers: ask whether the Strata Hub lodgement is included in the fee or charged extra. We include it.
For 2-lot schemes: you can stop lodging from 1 October 2026. Everything else — insurance, repairs, levies — still applies.
Checks for new buyers
When you're buying into a strata scheme, we always recommend looking at:
- The section 184 strata information certificate
- A full inspection of the scheme's records and minutes
Inconsistencies between them are an early warning sign.
Sources
Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2016, cl 43(1), as amended by the Strata Schemes Management Amendment Regulation 2026 (2026 No 449): legislation.nsw.gov.au/view/pdf/asmade/sl-2026-449
NSW Fair Trading — Changes to strata laws: nsw.gov.au — Changes to strata laws