CSTM Strata Group

This company is rude, dismissive, and impossible to deal with—yet they’re getting paid to treat clients this way. They rarely reply to emails, and even the simplest tasks feel like a struggle to get moving. I don’t have the energy to list every time CSTM Newcastle let us down, but changing to a different strata company was easily the best decision… Read more

we made. I only wish we’d done it sooner. And honestly, their website still showing old COVID‑19 notices says everything. They don’t even keep basic information updated.

Absolute Disgrace - Arrogant Staff with Zero Customer Service Skills I cannot express how appalling my experience has been with this strata company with in the Newcastle office. The staff are not only incompetent but shockingly rude and condescending. From the moment you contact them, you’re treated like an inconvenience rather than a paying… Read more

client. Their customer service representatives carry themselves with an air of superiority that is completely unjustified given their abysmal performance. They talk AT you, not WITH you, constantly interrupting and speaking over anyone who dares to ask a question.

What truly disgusted me was witnessing how they treated elderly clients. One staff member had the audacity to complain that they “made it clear” to an elderly person who “didn’t take it on board.” Perhaps if they took two seconds to speak respectfully and actually LISTEN instead of bulldozing through conversations, people might actually understand what they’re saying. Elderly clients deserve patience and respect, not contempt.

These people seem to have forgotten that providing good service means communicating with basic human decency. They refuse to provide information that owners are LEGALLY ENTITLED TO RECEIVE. When you ask legitimate questions, they act like you’re wasting their precious time. They’ll talk in circles, contradict themselves, and then blame YOU for not understanding their incomprehensible explanations.

It’s become painfully obvious that this company takes advantage of clients who don’t know their rights. They withhold information, refuse to clarify procedures, and create barriers at every turn.

AVOID AT ALL COSTS

If you have any choice in the matter, RUN from this company. They are unprofessional, disrespectful, and clearly believe they’re doing you a favour by taking your money. A strata company should work FOR the owners, not against them.

Absolutely shameful.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

CSTM is the worst strata company. I cannot express how appalling my experience has been with this strata company. They are arrogant, rude and will use their knowledge to bully you if you do not do what they want. If you need anything repaired that is under strata you will wait months and months. If you send an email asking for information, or… Read more

support you will wait a while. When you call, they make you feel like your wasting their time. As a former strata committee member, I highly recommend, save yourself the headache and undue stress and either use someone else or do it yourself. I think they forget the fact that you pay them for a service.

Very unprofessional staff. Aggressive and impolite! If you can use another agency do so. Or better still do it yourself.

Terrible management/agents – They claim to still be sending me paper bills but they "must be getting lost with auspost". No other company has any issues sending me bills. There staff are plain rude and lazy. They took over management of a strata block and there has been issues ever since. I'd stick away from ctsm tuggerah can understand they have such bad ratings

Unprofessional – I have encounted SSMB through a friend advising her and supporting her during this stressful time in Strata I have found them bias and vexatious also not being able to perform legal documents of a paid Strata Manager to arrange AGM agenda's and complete compident Minutes They are rude and abnoxious and can't even perform a meeting via zoom but by way of paper voting which is not I believe as part of a democracy Keep away

Thank you CSTM!! – I have been an Owner for only a short amount of time and I can safely say that CSTM Strata Group make my life so much easier. Any concerns or questions that I have get answered in a timely manner, the staff are so friendly and supportive. 100% recommend this amazing company!!

5 star – Understanding. This team goes above and beyond. Delivered my needs as a unit owner.

Great Strata Managers – I have been with CSTM for 6 years now for my home and also purchased an investment unit about a year ago which I was thrilled to find is managed by CSTM. They are easy to contact and always professional. I like that they offer zoom for meetings so that I don't have to go anywhere. Definitely would recommend if you are looking for strata managers.

Nothing but good things to say! – Simply cannot understand some of the other reviews! Have been dealing with CSTM for years with multiple properties & have nothing but praise for them. I also have the misfortune of dealing with other strata management companies & can tell you CSTM is above the rest. Seeing how easy it is to register a review here though without any proof of even being a customer of CSTM makes me question the value of Product Review…

Great and easy service – CSTM have been the managers for our unit for years. We have never had any troubles. Always polite and easy to deal with. We've had lots of repairs that needed to be done and they've made it easy. Thank you.

Great experience – I moved into a property managed by CSTM 3 yrs ago. During this time the customer service as been amazing, always prompt and and willing to take the time to explain. Even through the lock downs with covid (which was a hard time for everyone) they were always there and doing everything they could to fix any issues we had. Ive never had such a good experience with any other strata group. Thankyou CSTM.

Amazing Service – We have a number of properties managed by CSTM offices and are extremely happy with the level of expertise and service.

Very unprofessional – Very unprofessional. When I told of mistakes made by worker she threatened me by saying she would send my correspondence to all owners. She belittled me for being elderly and unwell. She told me to find another place to live if I couldn't afford the 100 percent rise in strata fees. She refused to listen to my issues, and infered I was lying and my issues were unfounded. This strata business is located at Wickham

Lack of professionalism- They are good at [Content Removed] – Take your business somewhere else. They could be better at managing the building and don't care about residents' needs. [Name Removed] has no skill in solving the issues but is very good at threatening people and firing up the flame.

[Content Removed] is an abuser, extremely unprofessional service – The [Content Removed], [Name Removed], is an abuser of children and women. As a customer, he will put your own interests asides for his personal gain. Issues within a company usually come from high up, and as someone who has seen his violent side far too many times in the past, I've seen from the inside how low he and his business will go to treat… Read more

their costumers poorly. Do not trust him or his business. If my word is not enough, look at the other one star reviews on this website. Extremely unprofessional, you are much better looking elsewhere for a strata service.

Warning- beware of money [Content Removed] – It has been recently brought to light by a Post Office in Sydney three days ago that if you are making levy payments to CSTM that payments should be made electronically instead of cash due to money [Content Removed] within this organisation. Please exercise caution and consider taking your business elsewhere as this organisation can not be trusted with our money.

Incompetent, dodgy or both – In addition to your fees, CSTM receives a kick back for using certain insurance brokers, the broker adds this their fees so CSTM slag you twice for a serviceyou're already paying for. It's hidden in the fine print but they won't tell you about it. Shop around and organise yourself. Sadly it is what you pay them for.

useless bunch of no – u lot need a wake up call been asking for over 8 years to fix a leak in the unit coz its so bad i cant even sleep let alone live in it may as well sleep in the car.and you say u is gonna put my rent up in a unit thats not livable what a joke.seems i have no other choice but to go to Fair Trading and even ACA u lot are useless

Hopeless on every level – My experience with CSTM has been incorrectly minuted meetings, resulting in additional costs to the strata. Maintenance arranged at exorbitant prices without getting multiple quotes. Being misled by staff and maintenance not being done when committed to. Overall a very expensive way to cheese off owner occupiers and for investors to lose their tenants.

They could not care less about our Strata Plan – They do not return phone calls or emails from owners, tenants or trades people. Our property maintenance people have not been paid in over two months and CSTM have not responded to their emails and phone calls so they have withdrawn their services leaving us here are living with unemptied rubbish bins over Christmas. Their office is shut for… Read more

Christmas and we have no contact details in case of emergency. The [Content Removed] of the staff is beyond belief. We have not had a sight inspection in over three years from CSTM staff and when I requested one in November I was told the that is an extra service which we would have to pay for on top of the $100K plus a year we are already paying....give me a break! We are using the Tuggerah office, the people running have no idea what service is. I have written to the Director who is apparently just as uninterested in doing his job. Avoid this company at all costs.

Incompetent Strata Manager – The Strata firm had trouble retaining staff.We had constant changes in Strata Manager dealing with our building. They were young and inexperienced (assistants) but the more senior people in the office were indifferent to our concerns and problems. They were poor communicators and didn't return phone calls or follow up. They rarely made… Read more

recommendations to the Committee just put all issues to the committee ( I am a committee member) to handle and lacked experience or judgement. Had very few contractor relationships and often could not find contractors to quote repairs. CSTM resigned as our strata manager with 3 months notice. They were very unhelpful in providing a smooth transition to the new strata manager even though they resigned. They were not interested in assisting with unfinished business and during their notice period failed to meet some key actions and responsibilities. Some of the owners became angry and frustrated with CSTM's incompetence which led CSTM to resign as they could not handle the confrontations. Could not recommend CSTM

Don't use them – Don't communicate states you need to talk to executive committe members but will not give you details, locks you in an [Content Removed] contract for 3 years in middle of pandemic 2020 hiked our levies up $96 ever 3 months for no reason. And done this by [Content Removed] AGM. Stay away. Have had my water stolen for 15 months by tradesmen and CSTM will not reimburse me for it or assist to prevent it.

Impossible to communicate with – Simply put, stay away. They do not respect their customers and are not interested in responding to phone calls or emails. What makes it even worse is that they lock you into a 3 year contract for your troubles.

Disgraceful Service – This is unfortunately my 2nd time over the past few years to attempt to make contact with this [Content Removed regarding damage at our apartment. Numerous unanswered emails and phone calls but they are very happy to collect my quarterly levy payments. Absolutely disgraceful way they run a business- do they forget that they actually work for the… Read more

property owners and we ACTUALLY PAY THEM! I will be strongly suggesting at the next Strata meeting to [Content Removed these lazy and incompetent people!

Worst business I have ever delt with – Not interested is solving issues, assisting with contract requirements, even speaking to clients. Cannot even get hold of anyone in their office via phone, email or office visit. But come payment time you will definitely hear from them. Administration bill is extremely high especially when considering how little they seem to do. I have never come across such rude behaviour in any business, ever.

Toxic environment (for clients and employees) – Wow, never in my life have I met a company with such incompetence.. rude to their clients, constantly. Every time I've ever stepped into the Newcastle office I see an employee crying. Staff members speak over clients when they are trying to get issues fixed in their properties. Its like none if these people have ever owned property before with how blazè they act about OUR properties. Could not reccomend anyone LESS.. worst experience ever

Incompetent – Several emails to this company over the course of two months advising of a potential danger to people using a footpath due to a damaged surface have gone unanswered. Hope they realise that if an injury occurs that they could be held responsible due to their inability to respond and rectify. This company seems to have contempt for the owners

Hypocritical "fundamental values" – cstm strata group newcastle differs from other negatively rated strata management only in that they write on their website of "... principles and values, client focused solution, communication etc... .These fundamental values underpin the way we work..." - but do not live up to this! : More than 4 weeks ago, a damage report was send to cstm by… Read more

email to inform them that after heavy rain, water penetrated through the roof into the bedroom and clogged rain gutters caused water entry into the living room from the balcony. 1. no reaction after a week 2. a reminder by email after 1 week to [Name Removed] and [Name Removed] without any reaction 3. phone call after 3 weeks- in the meantime further rainfall - inspection was promised by [Name Removed] ([Name Removed]'s assistant) 4. After more than 4 weeks no response, neither in writing nor by telephone. This is [Content Removed] on the part of strata management, since nothing has been done to reduce the damage, in fact an increase in damage has apparently been sanctioned.

Not interested in providing any service – The strata plan was looking for a new Strata Manager. The manager at this office was unhelpful and clearly not interested in growing the business. Had a condescending attitude. Don't know how people can operate businesses with this attitude.

Lazy, rude and unprofessional – Not sure why our owners corporation chose this group. They have little understanding of the law, are unprofessional, unresponsive and discourteous. I am very concerned as to their capability in managing a strata property. Stay clear of this group if you want peace of mind.