For both owners and investors, owners corporation (OC) fees are one of the most significant ongoing apartment expenses—but they’re also one of the least understood. When helping buyers choose the right property, or advising vendors on value, I spend as much time on the OC disclosure as I do on sales and marketing strategy. The trick isn’t just knowing what the fees are, but what they actually mean for return, risk, and resale.

First, understand exactly what your OC covers. Fees can vary widely depending on whether they include insurance, communal area maintenance, lift and security servicing, gardens, and building works, or are for basic admin and cleaning only. Whenever I’m onboarding a new listing, my first step is to get the full OC disclosure and study both the budget and the long-term asset plan. An agent who can’t interpret these documents isn’t helping you as a seller or as a buyer.

If you’re buying, look for recent or upcoming special levies, any history of fee increases, and the health of the sinking fund. Ask to see minutes of the last few meetings—they often reveal major repairs pending, building defects, or unresolved disputes that could impact value or create hidden risk. I’ve stopped transactions after discovering looming costly repairs that buyers were not aware of, or helped buyers access significant fee reductions by negotiating at this stage.

As a seller, OC disclosure should be prepared up front—include all current and scheduled fees, recent minutes and major works, and a summary of extras that could influence a buyer’s decision. Buyers are savvy and will have their own advisors review these documents; honesty about building health and works can mean the difference between a confident sale or a deal falling apart at the last minute.

Investors need to remember that lower OC fees are not always better. Buildings with rock-bottom fees may have deferred crucial maintenance, or lack funds for upgrades and compliance. High fees can sometimes be justified by amenities that drive higher rent or lower vacancies, such as upgraded security, pool, or lift maintenance.

The right approach is to make OC disclosure a strength: be transparent, supply every supporting document up front, and be ready to answer questions clearly. This demonstrates to buyers and their advocates that you have nothing to hide, reduces sales friction, and speeds up the transaction. For an expert review of your OC fees—whether buying, selling, or portfolio planning—contact Genneva Smarrelli today at http://collings.com.au/contact. I specialise in demystifying the numbers so you can buy and sell with complete confidence.