What does a surveyor do?

A surveyor measures and maps land, structures, and boundaries to provide accurate data for construction, property, and legal purposes. They use specialized equipment and technology to assess terrain and ensure projects are built in the correct location.

2. How long should a survey take?

The duration depends on the type and size of the property, but most residential land surveys take between a few hours to a full day. More complex or large-scale surveys may take several days.

3. How to choose a surveyor?

Look for a licensed or registered surveyor with experience in your specific type of project. Check reviews, ask for references, and confirm they use up-to-date equipment and follow local regulations.

4. Where do most surveyors work?

Surveyors work in a variety of environments including construction sites, urban developments, rural land, and government or infrastructure projects. They often split time between fieldwork and office-based data analysis.

5. What is the purpose of a surveyor?

A surveyor’s main purpose is to provide precise measurements and data that guide land development, property boundaries, and construction. Their work ensures legal clarity, safety, and accuracy in building and land use.

Strata Plan & Strata Subdivision

What is a Strata Plan?

Strata is a form of property ownership widely used in Australia. In essence, strata refers to a property divided into individually owned lots and shared common property. The strata system of property ownership was introduced in New South Wales in 1961.

Today, Australia has hundreds of thousands of properties under strata ownership of ownership. Properties that can fall under the strata model include residential, commercial, hybrid (residential and commercial use), resorts, and serviced apartments.

If you need professional strata properties plans and don’t know where to start, look no further than CitiSurv Pty Ltd.

As a company with over 50 years of combined experience in strata plans & strata subdivision surveying, we can empower you with highly reliable strata plans.

Our high-quality services and fast turnaround times are exactly what you need to properly document your land, allowing you to utilise it in any way you want.

We employ the latest in software and equipment to deliver technically accurate strata plans & strata plan of subdivision services for our residential and commercial clients. We have land surveying professionals who keep themselves up-to-date in strata plans & strata subdivision surveying fields with regular workshops and training.

Reach out to CitiSurv Pty Ltd. today to find out more.

Understanding What a Strata Plan Is

Strata refer to a multi-level building or collection of buildings. Strata plans can be somewhat difficult to understand, but two main elements go into them:

Strata scheme – strata schemes refer to buildings or groups of buildings divided into lots. These lots can be anything from individual apartments, houses, or townhouses. Someone buying a unit or lot is the owner of that specific part of the strata scheme, and they have shared ownership of the common areas with other occupants;
Strata plan – also called the strata plan of subdivision. This is a description of the strata scheme that includes all the details about it, from information about individual lots as well as outlines about the common property, from the ground level up.

Today, it’s common to also come across other terms such as ‘Dual Occupancy’ which refers to building two or more properties on the same land.

What’s Included in a Strata Plan?

These are the main components of a strata plan:

A registered strata plan contains the following elements:

Name of the strata scheme
Registered address of the strata scheme
Number of the strata plan
Registration date of the strata scheme on which the scheme was submitted for registration
Date of examination of the strata scheme by the registration authority
Actual date of registration
A confirmation of stipulation of by-laws, if any, for the strata scheme. By-laws refer to rules that owners and tenants residing in the strata scheme, need to abide by.
Details of Lot volume
Approval seal containing the date and sign from the office of the approving government body

What is Strata Subdivision?

A Strata Subdivision is the process of dividing a building or parcel of land into separate lots and common property, allowing each lot to have its own title. This subdivision type is essential when multiple dwellings or units are constructed on the same land, as it legally defines ownership boundaries and shared areas such as driveways, gardens, and stairwells. Strata Subdivision enables individual ownership of each unit while maintaining collective ownership of shared spaces, ensuring clear property rights and compliance with NSW strata legislation. It’s a vital step for developers, builders, and property owners preparing to sell, lease, or manage multi-unit developments.

For Sydney property owners and developers, strata subdivision is one of the most common ways to unlock value from multi-unit sites, from dual occupancies in the suburbs to larger apartment developments across the metropolitan area. CitiSurv prepares strata subdivision plans for sites throughout Sydney, working within local council requirements and NSW strata legislation to define lots, common property and shared access accurately. Getting the strata subdivision right from the start helps your Sydney project move through registration without costly delays.

What Happens Once a Strata Plan Is Registered?

Usually, strata will be registered once the development process for the building is complete. The entire strata plan is a registered document, lodged with NSW Land Registry Services, that will be part of public records. From this moment, all common property stays with the Owners Corporation, a body corporate that can be represented by individual lot owners or even the developers.

A strata certificate of title is usually first owned by the development company that put the units for sale, and then the titled subdivisions can be transferred to the new owners.

If you’re a development consultant, CitiSurv Pty Ltd can help you with tailored solutions in getting the strata titled.

How Can CitiSurv Pty Ltd Help?

If you’re looking for help in creating your strata plan on the fast track, we can help. CitiSurv Pty Ltd. is here to assist you with high-quality surveying services that are essential to getting your strata titled.

Here are a few common reasons why you need our professional services:

Knowing how the strata system works is essential to your current project management efforts, and we highly recommend you reach out to us to access our professional services for additional support.

Call us today at 02 9647 1142 for more information!

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a strata plan of subdivision?

A strata plan of subdivision divides an existing strata lot, or part of the common property, into new lots within the same strata scheme. It can also be used to consolidate lots. The plan is prepared by a registered surveyor and lodged with NSW Land Registry Services, and changes involving common property require owners corporation approval.

What is the difference between strata title and Torrens title?

With Torrens title, you own the land and everything on it outright, and you are solely responsible for maintenance. With strata title, you own your individual lot and share ownership of common property, such as driveways, gardens and building structure, with other owners through the owners corporation, which manages shared costs and upkeep.

What is common property in a strata scheme?

Common property is any part of the strata scheme that is not within an individual lot. It typically includes foyers, stairwells, lifts, external walls, roofs, driveways and shared gardens. Common property is owned by all lot owners collectively and is managed and maintained by the owners corporation.

What is unit entitlement in a strata plan?

Unit entitlement is a number allocated to each lot that sets its share of the common property. It determines how much each owner contributes in strata levies and how much weight their vote carries on certain decisions. In NSW, the schedule of unit entitlement for a new strata plan is supported by a registered valuer’s certificate.

Can an existing building be converted to strata title?

Yes, an existing building can often be strata subdivided, provided council planning controls allow it and the building meets current standards. A strata certificate from council or a registered certifier is required before registration. A surveyor can inspect the building, prepare the strata plan and coordinate with your certifier through the process.

Contact CitiSurv to Get a Consultation Today

At CitiSurv, we have a strong reputation and a track record of excellence and we have delivered cost-effective, reliable, and timely surveying services to a wide variety of public and private sector clients, both big and small.

Get In Touch

Should you need any advice or assistance with your land development needs, please feel free to contact us today. We’ll be happy to discuss your needs further.

Phone:

02 9647 1142

Email:

info@citisurv.com.au

Postal:

PO Box 439, Kellyville NSW 2155

Address:

Unit 24, 8 Avenue of the Americas, Newington NSW 2127