NSW Fair Trading has appointed Angus Abadee as strata and property services commissioner, as the state strives to improve standards in the sector.

Mr Abadee has held the role on an interim basis since John Minns stepped down in December, and has established and led a strata and property taskforce.

“We have an opportunity to drive proactive and visible regulation across the industry, focusing on improving agent behaviour, cracking down on individuals and agencies, and empowering consumers,” Mr Abadee said.

“Along with the Fair Trading team, I want to ensure that practitioners do not just see themselves as running a business – they recognise they are members of a profession that comes with benefits and obligations.”

Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong says protection for real estate consumers and people living in strata schemes is one of the state government’s top priorities.

“This is a critical time in the development of regulations and responding to consumer concerns across a growing and changing industry, which will see almost half of Greater Sydney’s population living in strata communities in 2040,” he said.

NSW last year passed legislation to enhance disclosure and transparency in the sector, and Fair Trading has consulted on a potential insurance commission ban for strata managers after poor behaviour was highlighted in ABC news programs.

Mr Minns said in December he was leaving the strata commissioner job after reaching “the limits of what is possible without adequate budget or resourcing”. He called for a national conversation on the future of strata and real estate in Australia.

An external review last year found no basis to proceed with misconduct proceedings against Mr Minns after an ABC Four Corners program on the strata industry raised issues about his real estate interests.