Two-Lot Strata Schemes in NSW: What Changes from 1 October 2026?

If you own a property in a two-lot strata scheme, such as a duplex, you may have wondered why a scheme with just two owners has some of the same reporting requirements as a large apartment building.

From 1 October 2026, one of those requirements is set to change: two-lot strata schemes in NSW will no longer need to complete annual reporting through Strata Hub.

What is changing?

At present, two-lot schemes are included in the requirement to submit information about their scheme to the NSW Government each year. From 1 October 2026, they will be exempt from that annual reporting requirement.

It is a welcome reduction in administration for owners managing a small scheme. It does not, however, mean that a duplex stops being a strata scheme or that the owners no longer have shared responsibilities.

What still needs attention?

Two-lot owners still need to manage their common property and the obligations that apply to their particular scheme. Depending on its circumstances, that may include arranging repairs, maintaining appropriate insurance, keeping records, managing contributions and making decisions together.

For example, if a shared roof, driveway or drainage system needs work, the reporting exemption will not resolve who arranges or pays for the repair. The owners still need to understand their strata plan, any applicable by-laws and their responsibilities for the property.

Two-lot schemes should also avoid assuming that an exemption from annual reporting means an exemption from every other strata requirement. The rules that apply can depend on how the lots and buildings are configured.

Does the new committee training requirement apply?

Another NSW strata change begins on 1 October 2026: annual training for strata committee members. Committee members in two-lot schemes are exempt from that training requirement.

Even so, it is useful for both owners to understand how decisions are made and documented, particularly when they disagree about costs or maintenance.

What should owners do now?

If you are part of a two-lot scheme, this is a good opportunity to check:

• Who is currently handling the scheme’s administration?

• Are the strata plan, insurance details and key records easy for both owners to access?

• Are shared repairs being identified and addressed?

• Is there a clear process for agreeing on spending and recording decisions?

Small schemes can be straightforward to run, but informal arrangements become difficult when an owner sells, a major repair arises or the two owners disagree.

The key takeaway: from 1 October 2026, two-lot schemes will no longer need to complete annual Strata Hub reporting. The day-to-day responsibility for looking after the scheme remains.

If you would like help understanding how your two-lot scheme is being managed, Centric Strata can help you identify the records, decisions and maintenance issues worth reviewing.