Best Practice / Hints & Tips

STOP THE BODY CORPORATE – I WANT TO GET OFF!

Most strata owners would have had some sort of disclosure statement plonked on their contract, the aim of which was to impart upon the starry-eyed purchaser some basic useful information regarding the nature of the proprietary interest in which they were about to invest. Strata owners in Queensland are also very fortunate to have their own unique office of the commissioner for body corporate and community management, which, in addition to offering a dispute resolution service for disgruntled “strataphiles”, provides an information service accessible by anyone.

Despite that rich strata history and free strata resources, for many people living and investing in community titles scheme in Queensland, strata remains an enigma.

Here are a couple of anecdotal common examples of situations that could have been avoided with a little more due diligence.

COMMITTEE COURSE CHALLENGE PRIZE WINNER ANNOUNCED!

Effective committees are the backbone of well-managed strata communities in Queensland. They ensure smooth operations, fair decision-making, and compliance with body corporate regulations. However, many committee members—or those considering joining—may not fully understand their responsibilities.

To bridge this knowledge gap, Smart Strata provides a free online course, The Body Corporate Committee in Queensland, designed to educate committee members, aspiring members, and strata stakeholders about their key duties.

To encourage participation, we launched the Committee Course Challenge, where 250 participants tested their knowledge through a 20-question multiple-choice quiz. The strong engagement highlighted the growing demand for accessible, practical committee education.

DEVELOPMENT APPROVAL CHANGES EXPLAINED

Recently, there was a request for some guidance on a not so common situation.  A young scheme, only a year old and with everyone just settling in, the committee received a request to remove the palm trees. As with most new high value developments, the committee were new to body corporate and asked “What is the process in responding to this owner’s request?”.

THREE WAYS TO OBTAIN THE CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT FROM THE DEVELOPER

In Queensland, a developer must provide key documents, such as construction contracts and safety certificates, at the first annual general meeting. These documents are essential for effective property management and maintenance. If a developer fails to comply, the body corporate has several options. This article explores these options and underscores the importance of acting swiftly to preserve the body corporate’s rights and address potential building defects.

COMMITTEE GUIDE: MANAGEMENT RIGHTS ASSIGNMENTS

Management rights businesses are unique to the strata sector. A body corporate is a party to any management rights agreement, and therefore plays a role in the transfer of those agreements should the resident manager wish to sell.

This guide is for committees who have been asked to, or may soon have to, consider the question of consenting to the assignment of the management rights agreements for their scheme.

COMMITTEE COURSE CHALLENGE CLOSING TODAY!

The countdown is on! The Committee Course Challenge officially closes at 5 PM today, Friday, 24th January 2025. Don’t miss your chance to take part in this exciting challenge and be in the running to win a LENOVO 10 Tablet!

RESOLVING GENERAL MEETING DISPUTES THROUGH CONCILIATION

History shows most disputes within community title schemes arise from a lack of communication or knowledge of body corporate legislation.

However, they can be resolved by both parties talking through their issues and gaining a better understanding of body corporate legislation and how it relates to their dispute…

COMMITTEE COURSE CHALLENGE FINAL WEEK!

📢 Attention all Committee Members, aspiring leaders, and strata enthusiasts! The Committee Course Challenge is in its final week, and the countdown to the finish line has begun. If you haven’t taken part yet, now is the time!

PAYING LEVIES IN A BODY CORPORATE

Ensuring body corporate levies are paid on time is an important aspect of community living. The payment of levies allows all owners and occupiers to enjoy and use well maintained common property and have money available to pay contractors and insurance. Sufficient levies allows all owners peace of mind that when expenditure by the body corporate is needed, there are enough funds to complete the work without the need to dip into their pockets all the time to top up the funds.

This article covers the importance of paying levies, as well as what could happen if lot owners do not pay. It also provides information about the potential disputes that could be resolved through our office in relation to body corporate levies.

COMMITTEE COURSE CHALLENGE CLOSING SOON!

We’ve designed a quick and engaging multiple-choice quiz following a simple, one-page breakdown of Committee roles and responsibilities. It’s an easy way to test your knowledge and learn more about how Committees contribute to a well-oiled and well-informed Strata scheme.