QLD

REGISTRATIONS OPEN: COMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP AND BY-LAW LIFECYCLE SEMINARS

A Must-Attend Event for Strata Committee Members

All strata committee members and stakeholders now is the time to secure your place at the upcoming Smart Strata education seminars. Designed to provide essential insights into committee membership and the by-law lifecycle, these seminars are invaluable for anyone involved in strata. With registrations now open, early booking is recommended to ensure you don’t miss out on these highly informative sessions.

THE LIFECYCLE OF A COMMITTEE PART 1

Welcome to the first instalment of our series exploring the lifecycle of a committee, from its initial appointment to navigating disputes. In this series, we’ll break down the key stages, responsibilities and challenges committees face — using a light-hearted yet insightful analogy: Sesame Street CTS 123.

Registered 56 years ago, this fictional scheme is home to a diverse group of volunteers who dedicate their time to keeping their community running smoothly. Their goal is to ensure sunny days where friendly neighbours can meet every day — but as with any committee, challenges inevitably arise.

RECOVERING FROM EX- TROPICAL CYCLONE ALFRED: YOUR ESSENTIAL NEXT STEPS

Ex-tropical Cyclone Alfred has left its mark on Southeast Queensland, with strong winds and heavy rainfall causing widespread damage to strata properties. If your building has been affected, knowing the correct steps to take will help ensure a smooth recovery. This guide outlines what to do next, from safety checks to insurance claims, and how Archers the Strata Professionals and MAI Strata can assist you.

PRIORITISING SAFETY: OFFICE CLOSURE & CYCLONE ALFRED PRECAUTIONS

Tropical Cyclone Alfred is set to impact Southeast Queensland, bringing strong winds, heavy rainfall, and potential disruptions to infrastructure. In response, all of our Southeast Queensland offices have been temporarily closed, and the Smart Strata and Archers the Strata Professionals Teams are now working remotely to continue supporting our clients. While we will do our utmost to assist, we ask for your patience as emergency services and critical support are prioritised for those in the greatest distress.

We remain committed to ensuring the well-being of all strata communities. We encourage you to reach out for assistance, whether for property concerns, emergency contacts, or reliable tradespeople for urgent repairs. You can access our Supplier Directory on the Smart Strata website for trusted service providers ready to assist during this period.

EMERGENCY WORKS IN RESPONSE TO DAMAGE CAUSED BY CYCLONE ALFRED IN SEQ

At the time of this publication, Cyclone Alfred is expected to have made landfall in South East Queensland. Significant property damage is expected. Essential building infrastructure and services may be compromised and require repairs.

Lot owners will look to committee members for quick action. Committees will in turn look to strata managers and other advisors for guidance on how to navigate the complicated legislative landscape and administrative procedures to ensure those urgent repairs can be carried out.

We provide this guidance on the processes, remedies and considerations involved so it may help you help any affected strata communities you manage or are a committee member in.

CYCLONE PREPARATION GUIDE FOR STRATA OWNERS

Strata owners along the Queensland coast are urged to check property and make action plans to ensure safety and prevent additional damages. Now is the time to Plan, Pack and Listen.

1. Check your disaster management plan
2. Check your insurance excess and coverage
3. Carry out a pre-cyclone building inspection to ensure the scheme is safe and free of debris
4. Secure any loose items in common areas and balconies/patios (including removal of shade sails if possible)

Complete Storm Checklist and Guide, READ MORE…

EXCLUSIVE USE MAINTENANCE – ‘BUT THE OWNER BUILT IT!’

A recent adjudication decision has clarified a seemingly unchartered issue about maintenance responsibility in exclusive use areas – and the outcome may surprise you.

In the matter of Jefferson Villas [2024] QBCCMCmr 473 (Jefferson Villas), decided on 17 December 2024, the primary issue for determination by Adjudicator Miskinis was whether the body corporate or lot owner was responsible for a waterproofing membrane on a balcony terrace within an exclusive use area.

SECRET BALLOTS CAN’T BE USED TO DODGE STRATA DEMOCRACY

Secret ballots were introduced in strata meetings in 2003 to protect the identity of voters. Before then, you could ring the body corporate manager either before a resolution or after the meeting and find out which way people had voted.

In 2003, specific provisions were introduced that made it compulsory to decide certain decisions by secret ballot. The clearest statutory example is the decision to enter into new management rights agreements or to vary management rights agreements to add further option term.

Bodies corporate also have the flexibility to resolve that other types of decisions must be made by secret ballot, and those matters can be whatever the body corporate chooses. There is one building we are aware of that has made every motion at every general meeting a secret ballot, including confirmation of the minutes of the last meeting. You can imagine how long those meetings go for!

INSTALLING SOLAR INFRASTRUCTURE IN A BODY CORPORATE UNDER THE BUILDING UNITS AND GROUP TITLES ACT 1980

Rising cost-of-living expenses and an environmentally conscious community have ignited a surge in demand for sustainable and energy-efficient solutions across Queensland.

According to the Department of Energy and Climate around 850,000 homes and small businesses are connected to solar energy across the state.  Queensland boasts the highest rate of residential rooftop solar installations in the nation.

With that number expected to continue to rapidly rise, this article will explore the regulatory framework regarding the installation of solar panels and solar hot water systems (solar infrastructure) in those Queensland bodies corporate that fall under the Building Units and Group Titles Act 1980 (the BUGT Act).

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.