‘Disturbing’: Strata manager banned for life after allegedly stealing $2m from dozens of strata schemes

A strata manager has been banned for life and appears on a new “name and shame” register after allegedly defrauding more than $2m from dozens of strata schemes.

Coffs Harbour strata manager Jessica Marrie Carah had her licence cancelled and was permanently disqualified from the property and strata industry after NSW Fair Trading found she acted unlawfully.

The regulator alleges Ms Carah fraudulently converted more than $2m from 66 strata schemes and funnelled the money through 398 transactions into her own personal account between February 2024 and December 2024.

“In light of the above, Ms Carah was found to not be a fit and proper person to be involved in the direction, management or conduct of the business of a licensee under the Property and Stock Agents Act 2002,” a NSW Fair Trading spokesman said.

Ms Carah’s employment at SMS Community and Strata Specialists in Coffs Harbour ceased in January 2025 and her licence was cancelled last month.

She now appears on a new register launched by the department this week to crackdown on irresponsible agents and allow homeowners, purchasers and renters to check the track record of property agents before they sign.

Fair Trading NSW strengthened its disciplinary and enforcement action through a strata and property task force that conducts anytime, anywhere audits, following an $8m government investment.

Minister for Better Regulation and Fair Trading Anoulack Chanthivong said enforcement action like this was a crucial part of the government’s work to lift standards, boost consumer confidence and restore trust in the strata sector.

“Under regulations, a strata manager must hold separate trust accounts for an owner’s corporation and those funds must only be used as the client directs,” he said.

“With our recently established strata and property services task force targeting misconduct by strata managers, licensees in charge will be held accountable for meeting their obligations to review and approve all transactions from the trust.

“With more people living in strata schemes across our state, this work is crucial to delivering the best quality services for tenants and owners alike.”

Fair Trading Commissioner and Acting Strata and Property Services Commissioner Natasha Mann said strata managers were required to hold separate trust accounts for owners corporations.

Ms Mann said those funds must only be used as the owners corporation directs and cannot be used for any other purpose.

“This case is disturbing,” she said.

“NSW Fair Trading is ensuring people like this are removed from the industry so that consumers are protected.”

NewsWire understands no criminal charges have been laid.