Strata title was invented in New South Wales in 1961 and is now used across all Australian states and territories. Inside a strata scheme each owner has a 'lot' (their apartment plus any allocated parking, storage or balcony) and an undivided share of the common property — things like the building structure, lifts, gardens, driveways, hallways and external walls.

Decisions about that common property are made collectively by the body of owners (called the owners corporation in NSW/VIC/ACT, body corporate in QLD/NT, strata company in WA, or community corporation in SA). A licensed strata manager is usually appointed to administer the scheme on the owners' behalf.