Australia’s strata and community title sector has grown to about 2.6 million title lots with an insured value of $995 billion, a new report shows.

The three most common professional services provided to strata properties are from lawyers, valuers and insurers, while the most common callout jobs involve gardening, plumbing and electrical work.

The first Australian National Strata Data Report, prepared by the University of NSW City Futures Research Centre and funded by the Strata Community Association, collects data from state and territory agencies and multiple companies to show the sector’s value and size.

Co-author Hazel Easthope says strata schemes are like another tier of government, collecting levies and having representatives who sit on committees that manage assets worth many millions of dollars.

“The report shows just how big this industry is in Australia and how important this fourth tier of government, run by volunteers, is to the economy, to people’s assets, and to their lives,” she says.

“The report will be a huge opportunity to assess what the sector does, how big it is, how the economy benefits from the goods and services it supplies, and the extent these services contribute to national income.”

About 2.2 million people, or 9% of the population, live in apartments, with half these residents aged 20-39. Those aged 40-59 account for 20% of residents.

In NSW 15% of the population lives in apartments, followed by the ACT with 10%, Victoria on 8% and Queensland with 7%.

People living alone represent 35% of households, while couples without children account for 24% and couples with children 13%.

Group households represent 9% and single parents 6%. The remainder is not specified.