Who Is Responsible for Strata Garden Maintenance in NSW?
Short answer: Strata garden maintenance isn’t just mowing lawns. It’s about keeping shared spaces safe, attractive, and compliant — while clearly understanding who’s responsible, how much it should cost, and what “maintenance” actually includes. For facility and strata managers, getting this right avoids disputes, surprise bills, and reactive clean-ups.
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What Does Garden Maintenance Actually Mean?
Garden maintenance is the regular, ongoing care required to keep outdoor areas healthy, safe and visually appealing. This typically includes:
- Lawn mowing and edging
- Seasonal fertilising and mulching
- Weeding and pest management
- Pruning shrubs, hedges and trees for health and compliance
- Cleaning paths, courtyards and other hard surfaces
- Monitoring irrigation and drainage
- Reporting structural issues (e.g. root damage, retaining wall movement)
Maintenance ≠ landscaping. Landscaping covers upgrades and design works — such as new planting, turf replacement, or structural improvements. Knowing the difference helps committees plan budgets and avoid scope creep.
For official responsibilities around common property, see NSW Fair Trading — Maintenance & Repairs.
How Much Should You Pay for Garden Maintenance?
In NSW, professional gardening services typically cost $70–$100+ per gardener per hour, depending on site complexity, scope and visit frequency.
- Basic services (mowing, weeding, blowing): lower end of the range.
- Comprehensive maintenance packages (fertilising, reporting, rubbish removal, irrigation checks): higher end.
- Specialised works (tree trimming, irrigation repairs, landscaping): usually quoted separately.
Planned, recurring visits (fortnightly or monthly) keep costs predictable and prevent expensive catch-ups.
Helpful overview: RealEstate.com.au — Strata maintenance costs.
Our strata garden maintenance programs cover everything from lawn care to irrigation across Greater Sydney.
Tenant vs Owner vs Strata: Who’s Responsible?
- Strata (Owners Corporation): common property gardens and shared outdoor areas.
- Lot Owners: typically exclusive-use courtyards, private gardens, balcony planters (subject to by-laws).
- Tenants: keep exclusive-use areas tidy (mowing, light weeding, watering) — not structural works like tree removal or irrigation repairs.
Clear wording in by-laws and lease agreements prevents finger-pointing later.
Plain-English guidance: Tenants’ Union of NSW.
How Often Should Gardens Be Maintained?
For most strata sites, fortnightly or monthly visits are ideal. Showcase or high-traffic properties may warrant weekly service. Regularity keeps lawns neat, weeds down, and seasonal tasks (mulching, pruning, fertilising) on schedule — saving money over time.
See Garden Managers strata garden maintenance services.
Insurance & Compliance: What Strata Managers Should Expect
Strata managers have a duty of care to engage properly covered and compliant contractors. A professional garden maintenance provider should supply:
- Public Liability Insurance — typically $10–$20 million cover
- Workers Compensation Insurance — if they employ staff
- Professional Indemnity (where advisory/design work is provided)
- Safe Work Method Statements (SWMS) — for higher-risk tasks (e.g. tree work, machinery)
- White Cards / site inductions — for construction-adjacent/new developments
- ABN & GST registration evidence
- Chemical handling certification — if applying herbicides/fertilisers
Request and file this documentation annually. Many strata insurance policies expect proof of contractor coverage in the event of a claim.
Practical Tips for Strata & Facility Managers
- Lock in regular maintenance (not just once-off tidy-ups).
- Clarify responsibilities between strata, owners and tenants.
- Budget for routine visits and seasonal extras.
- Choose gardeners with strata experience and photo-based reporting.
- Schedule tree trimming & irrigation checks proactively.
- Verify insurances & SWMS annually.
Final Thoughts
Strata garden maintenance is an investment in safety, compliance and community value. With a clear scope, realistic costs, agreed responsibilities and proper compliance, your property will look its best year-round — without surprises.
Need a tailored, compliant maintenance plan?
We can design a schedule, set clear scope, and provide photo-based reports for committees.
Author: Las Sebetka [Owner] — Strata Garden Maintenance Specialists, NSW
Website: www.gardenmanagers.com.au
