A Canberra renter has launched legal action against his former strata management company after it allegedly demanded he pay up to $4000 to review CCTV footage crucial to a police investigation into the theft of his motorcycle.
Strata company faces ACAT over "unconscionable" fee demand
Brody Schmidt is taking Vantage Strata to the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal (ACAT), claiming the company attempted to profit from his misfortune after his bike was stolen from his apartment building's underground car park in January 2025. In his application, Mr Schmidt alleges the strata manager failed to properly secure the car park, was negligent in reviewing security footage, and "demonstrated unconscionable conduct" by trying to impede a police investigation for financial gain.
A hearing is scheduled for early February 2026, where Mr Schmidt will seek $6725 in damages. He discovered his motorcycle missing upon returning from a three-day camping trip on January 12, 2025, and immediately filed a police report.
Police investigation hindered by excessive charges
Emails submitted to ACAT reveal that police requested CCTV footage from the car park for the period between January 9 and January 12. The strata manager initially reviewed footage for two days but then informed Mr Schmidt that he would need to pay for the review of the remaining days.
Text messages show the manager quoted a rate of $210 per hour for what was estimated to be a 10 to 20-hour job, totalling as much as $4200. When Mr Schmidt refused to pay, Vantage Strata told police they could not provide the remaining footage.
"The treatment I received was just unfair," Mr Schmidt said. "I was a victim of a crime and then someone tried to exploit me for that. That's unreasonable, clearly."
Case closed after footage withheld
Following police intervention, where officers told the strata company the fee was excessive and they were hindering an investigation, Vantage Strata agreed to review the remaining footage. However, they reported finding nothing of note and did not provide any footage directly to police.
ACT Police confirmed Mr Schmidt's case was closed due to their inability to access the CCTV. They noted they have no control over strata policies that may include fees for accessing such footage.
Mr Schmidt said he was left powerless, as the strata also declined to give him the footage directly, citing privacy laws. "Privacy laws are meant to protect people, but in this case, it was kind of working against me," he stated, highlighting the lack of control renters often have over their living environment.
Vantage Strata has declined to comment, citing the ongoing ACAT matter.
