Who this article is for
Owners and committee members
Anyone wondering what they actually get when they buy an Expert Report
What is a Cohabit Expert Report?
A Cohabit Expert Report is:
A paid, one-off report prepared by a vetted strata expert,
Based on the strata records they’ve been authorised to inspect for your building,
Written to highlight key risks, patterns and issues owners should know about.
It goes beyond “just documents” and turns the records into clear commentary about the building.
What does an Expert Report cover?
An Expert Report is structured around key parts of your building’s life, for example:
Building & lot context – basic profile of the building and your lot
Financials & levies – how money is being managed, funds vs upcoming needs
Compliance & insurance – coverage, renewals and any gaps in the records
Meetings & governance – patterns in AGMs/EGMs and committee decisions
Works & maintenance – completed works, upcoming works and major projects
Defects & issues – recurring problems, disputes or litigation noted in records
Historical documents & files – important documents the expert relied on
Behind the scenes, Cohabit experts work across 12 core categories (such as Building Profile, Lot Profile, Financials, Compliance, Meetings, Works & Maintenance, Defects, Issues and Historical Files), but as an owner you mainly see the insights and supporting documents for each.
How is this different from a Health Score?
The Building Health Score is a free, high-level indicator – a single number that summarises building health from the records available.
An Expert Report is a detailed, written explanation of what those records actually show.
Think of it like this:
Health Score → “How does the building look overall?”
Expert Report → “Why does it look like that, and what’s going on underneath?”
How is this different from Building Intelligence?
Building Intelligence is ongoing, refreshing your building’s data and Health Score quarterly.
An Expert Report is a point-in-time deep dive tied to a particular inspection of the records.
A lot of owners:
Use an Expert Report to get a strong baseline understanding, then
Rely on Building Intelligence to keep an eye on changes over time.
What an Expert Report is not
An Expert Report is not:
A guarantee that no issues exist beyond what’s in the records
Legal, financial or tax advice specific to your personal situation
A replacement for your strata manager, conveyancer/solicitor, accountant or other advisers
Instead, it’s a professional opinion based on the records inspected at that time, designed to help you ask better questions and make more informed decisions.
When should an owner consider ordering one?
Owners and committees often order an Expert Report when:
Major works or special levies are being proposed
There are persistent issues (e.g. water ingress, disputes, defects) and you want clarity
You’ve recently bought in and want to understand the building’s history
You’re planning to sell or refinance and want a clearer sense of building risk
FAQs
Q: Who writes the Expert Report?
A Cohabit-vetted strata expert – often a strata inspector or specialist used to reading and interpreting strata records. See How Cohabit vets strata experts for more detail.
Q: Do I get to talk to the expert?
Yes. When you buy an Expert Report, you get a Messages thread with the expert. You can ask follow-up questions about what they’ve found.
Q: How long is an Expert Report valid for?
There’s no hard expiry, but remember it reflects the records available at the time it was prepared. After a few months (especially if a lot has changed), you may rely more on:
Building Intelligence (if enabled), and/or
A new Expert Report for a fresh deep dive.