Can strata fees go up?

Yes. In Victoria owners set annual fees each year at the annual general meeting from a proposed budget, and special fees can be added. The Queensland Government says running costs are likely to increase over time. The budget and the maintenance plan or sinking fund forecast show what is driving the next figure.

How often are fees paid?

The body decides. Victoria's owners corporation sets the times for payment, and CAV's sample timetable uses quarters. Queensland's body corporate decides the number of instalments and the due dates at the annual general meeting.

What happens if a fee is not paid?

In Victoria a final notice can follow the 28 days, penalty interest is capped at the Penalty Interest Rates Act maximum, and an owner in arrears cannot vote on ordinary resolutions. In Queensland interest of up to 2.5% a month can apply and debt recovery can follow. CAV suggests contacting the owners corporation early about a payment plan.

Who decides how much each lot pays?

The plan does. In Victoria it states lot liability and lot entitlement, and in Queensland the contribution schedule lot entitlements in the community management statement set each lot's share. The developer sets them when the scheme is created.

How much are strata and body corporate fees?

No government source reviewed publishes a typical or average amount for strata, body corporate or owners corporation fees. A lot's fee is its share of the scheme's budget, so it depends on what the scheme spends and what share the lot carries. This page explains how the amount is worked out in Victoria and Queensland and gives hypothetical examples, as at October 2026.

The figure that matters is the scheme's own budget and the lot's share of it. In Victoria the owners corporation certificate shows the current fees, and in Queensland the body corporate certificate does.

Checked October 2026. Rules, rates and prices change, so confirm anything that matters with the source linked below.

Why there is no standard amount

The Queensland Government says levies vary between bodies corporate depending on the condition and age of the common property and shared facilities, and that running costs are likely to rise over time. The NSW Government warns that low levies can mean a steep rise later, and that special levies may be needed if there is not enough money for large works or unforeseen costs.

So a published average would say little about one townhouse estate. A small estate with a shared driveway and a few gardens has a different budget from a larger one with more to maintain. The guide to body corporate fees on townhouses lists what levies usually cover.

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How a Victorian fee is worked out

A budget. Before each annual general meeting the committee, or a delegate, estimates the cost of administration, maintenance, insurance and contributions to the maintenance plan, if there is one. The proposed budget goes out with the meeting notice, and owners decide the annual fees at the meeting.
A share. CAV says lot owners are charged annual fees according to their lot liability. The developer determines lot liability when the land is subdivided, it is recorded in the plan of subdivision, and it can be changed later by unanimous resolution.
Timing. Fee notices must use the approved forms and give owners 28 days from the date on the notice to pay. CAV's sample timetable uses quarterly instalments.
Extras. Special fees cover extraordinary spending, such as urgent building repairs. CAV says that if a proposed special fee is more than twice the total of the current annual fees, a special resolution is needed. A maintenance plan is compulsory for tier 1 and 2 owners corporations and optional for tiers 3 to 5, and one that has a plan must have a maintenance fund.

Worked example (hypothetical). A four-lot townhouse scheme sets its annual budget as insurance $6,500, gardens and driveway $4,500, administration $3,000 and maintenance fund $6,000, a total of $20,000. Each lot has 25% of lot liability.

Annual fee per lot: $20,000 x 25% = $5,000.
Quarterly: $5,000 / 4 = $1,250.
A special fee needs a special resolution above 2 x $20,000 = $40,000. If the scheme levied $50,000 to replace the driveway, each lot's share would be $50,000 x 25% = $12,500.

How a Queensland levy is worked out

The annual levies are decided by ordinary resolution at the annual general meeting. The body corporate agrees an administrative fund budget and a sinking fund budget, works out what each lot pays, sets the number of instalments and fixes the due dates.

Administrative fund. Covers maintaining common property, insurance charges and yearly costs such as management fees and electricity.
Sinking fund. Covers big or one-off items such as painting and replacing major items, and its budget must reserve for likely spending over at least nine years after the current year.
Share. Based on the contribution schedule lot entitlements in the community management statement. Building insurance is treated differently. The Queensland Government says insurance payments for owners in a building format plan are based on the interest schedule lot entitlements. For a standard format plan, which it illustrates with a townhouse complex, the sources reviewed do not say how the premium is divided, so the body corporate is the place to ask.
Notice. At least 30 days before the due date.
Discounts and penalties. If the body corporate resolves to, it can give a discount of up to 20% of an instalment for payment on time and charge simple interest of up to 2.5% a month on overdue contributions.

Worked example (hypothetical). An eight-lot standard format plan sets an administrative budget of $12,000 and a sinking fund budget of $8,000, a total of $20,000. A lot holds 1 of 8 contribution entitlements, which is 12.5%. For simplicity, the example divides the whole budget by contribution entitlements, although building insurance would be divided differently.

Annual levy: $20,000 x 12.5% = $2,500.
Four instalments: $2,500 / 4 = $625.
Maximum discount: $625 x 20% = $125, so $500 if paid on time.
Maximum interest on a late instalment: $625 x 2.5% = $15.63 for each month overdue.

The two examples are invented and cannot be compared. They use different budgets, lot numbers and rules.

What can push the figure up

Insurance. Both states list insurance as a cost the budget covers. Queensland divides building insurance on a different basis from other levies, as set out above.
Age of the buildings. Queensland's sinking fund budget must reserve for likely spending over at least nine years after the current year, so the work expected in that period affects the contributions. In Victoria, part of the annual fees goes into the maintenance fund when there is a maintenance plan.
Special levies. Victoria requires a special resolution when a special fee is more than double the annual fees, and Queensland needs an ordinary resolution for a special contribution.
Who benefits. In Victoria, CAV says special fees follow lot liability unless works benefit only some lots, in which case those that benefit more can pay more.

Checking the number before buying

In Victoria the certificate must show the fees for each period, the date they are paid up to, any special fees struck, the funds held, other liabilities and planned work. What an owners corporation certificate is sets out the contents. In Queensland the Government points to the levies set for the next financial year, the latest financial statement and any outstanding levies from the seller, which the new owner may have to pay. Council charges are separate, as covered in do body corporate fees include council rates.

Common questions

Can strata fees go up?: Yes. In Victoria owners set annual fees each year at the annual general meeting from a proposed budget, and special fees can be added. The Queensland Government says running costs are likely to increase over time. The budget and the maintenance plan or sinking fund forecast show what is driving the next figure.
How often are fees paid?: The body decides. Victoria's owners corporation sets the times for payment, and CAV's sample timetable uses quarters. Queensland's body corporate decides the number of instalments and the due dates at the annual general meeting.
What happens if a fee is not paid?: In Victoria a final notice can follow the 28 days, penalty interest is capped at the Penalty Interest Rates Act maximum, and an owner in arrears cannot vote on ordinary resolutions. In Queensland interest of up to 2.5% a month can apply and debt recovery can follow. CAV suggests contacting the owners corporation early about a payment plan.
Who decides how much each lot pays?: The plan does. In Victoria it states lot liability and lot entitlement, and in Queensland the contribution schedule lot entitlements in the community management statement set each lot's share. The developer sets them when the scheme is created.

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Sources

This is general information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Get advice that suits your situation before you buy.