Skip to main content

How to import your buildings

Import your buildings into Cohabit so you can quickly set up your portfolio, assign lots and owners, and start managing communications.

Updated this week

Who is this article for

Strata Managers setting up Cohabit for the first time or adding new buildings to their existing portfolio.

What this article covers

  • How to prepare your building data

  • How to add a building manually

  • How to bulk-import buildings using a CSV file

  • What to do after your buildings are imported

Before you begin

Get the following details ready for each building:

  • Building name

  • Street address

  • Suburb, state and postcode

  • Plan / scheme number (optional)

  • Total number of lots (if known)

  • (Optional) internal reference codes

  • (Optional) an export of buildings from your current system

Having this prepared will make the import smoother and reduce errors.

Step 1: Choose how you want to import

You can import buildings in two ways:

  • Option 1: Add buildings one-by-one (good for a small number of buildings)

  • Option 2: Import multiple buildings at once using a CSV file (best for larger portfolios)

You can mix and match both options over time.

Option 1 – Add buildings one-by-one

Step 2: Go to your Buildings area

  1. Log in to Cohabit as a Strata Manager.

  2. From the left-hand menu, click Buildings.
    ​[Screenshot placeholder – Buildings menu]

Step 3: Add a new building

  1. On the Buildings page, click Add Building.
    ​[Screenshot placeholder – Add Building button]

  2. A form will open for you to enter building details.

Step 4: Enter building details

Fill in the fields, including:

  • Building name

  • Address (street, suburb, state, postcode)

  • Plan / scheme number (optional)

  • Total lots (if known)

  • Any optional internal reference codes

[Screenshot placeholder – Building details form]

Step 5: Save your building

  1. Review the details you’ve entered.

  2. Click Save.

Your building will now appear in your Buildings list, ready for you to add lots, owners and committees.

Option 2 – Import multiple buildings via CSV

Step 2: Open the import tool

  1. Log in to Cohabit as a Strata Manager.

  2. From the left-hand menu, click Buildings.

  3. On the Buildings page, click Import Buildings.
    ​[Screenshot placeholder – Import Buildings option]

Step 3: Download the CSV template

  1. Click Download Template.

  2. Save the CSV file to your computer.
    ​[Screenshot placeholder – Download template]

This template contains the correct columns and format for Cohabit.

Step 4: Fill out the CSV

  1. Open the CSV file in Excel, Google Sheets or similar.

  2. Complete one row per building using the columns provided, such as:

    • building_name

    • address_line_1

    • suburb

    • state

    • postcode

    • plan_number (optional)

    • total_lots

  3. Keep the structure clean:

    • Don’t add or rename columns

    • Avoid merged cells or coloured formatting

    • Don’t use formulas in any cells

  4. Save the file as a .csv when you’re done.

Step 5: Upload your CSV

  1. Go back to Buildings → Import Buildings in Cohabit.

  2. Click Upload CSV.

  3. Drag and drop your file, or click Browse to select it.
    ​[Screenshot placeholder – Upload CSV dialog]

Step 6: Review and confirm the import

  1. Cohabit will validate your file and show you any issues, such as:

    • Missing required fields

    • Invalid postcodes or addresses

    • Duplicate buildings

  2. If errors are shown:

    • Download or review the error details

    • Fix the rows in your CSV

    • Re-upload the corrected file

  3. When everything looks correct, click Confirm Import.

Your buildings will be added and will appear in your Buildings list once processing is complete.

Step 2: Check your buildings in Cohabit

(No matter which option you used.)

  1. Go to Buildings in the left-hand menu.

  2. Confirm that:

    • Each building appears once

    • Names and addresses look correct

    • Total lots (if provided) look reasonable

If you spot errors, you can click into a building and edit the details.

What to do next

Once your buildings are in Cohabit, you can continue with setup:

  • Add lots and owners for each building

  • Assign committees and key contacts

  • Configure communication preferences

  • Invite your team to start working in Cohabit

The next article in this guide: Adding Lots and Owners.

FAQs

Do I have to use the CSV template?

Yes. Using the Cohabit CSV template ensures your columns match what the system expects, which reduces errors during import.

My CSV won’t upload. What should I check?

Check that:

  • The file is saved as .csv (not .xlsx or .numbers)

  • You haven’t added or renamed columns

  • There are no merged cells or special formatting

  • All required columns are filled in for each building

Some buildings didn’t import. What now?

This usually means there were issues with specific rows, such as:

  • Missing address details

  • Invalid state or postcode values

  • Duplicates of an existing building

Fix those rows in your CSV and re-upload.

Can I change a building after it’s imported?

Yes. Open the building from your Buildings list and click Edit Details to update its information.

Will re-importing the same building overwrite it?

No. Re-imports won’t automatically overwrite existing buildings. You’ll need to manually edit or archive any duplicates.

Related Articles
Searching for your building
What is a Building Profile? (Owners)
Setting up your Strata Company Account
Connecting to a building (Strata Manager)
Track your managed buildings
Did this answer your question?