When people think about lifts, they tend to picture the lift car moving smoothly between floors. It feels like the main event. But in reality, the part of the lift that works the hardest isn’t the motor or the cables, it’s the doors. In fact, around 80% of lift breakdowns are related to door systems. It’s a surprising statistic, but once you understand how lift doors operate and how often they’re used, it starts to make sense…
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Body corporate communities often face challenges that can slow progress or lead to disputes. These “sticking points” arise when people struggle to agree on decisions or resolve issues. Understanding these can help prevent conflicts from escalating and foster smoother resolutions…
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Living in a Queensland strata complex offers wonderful lifestyle benefits, from shared amenities to a strong sense of community. Whilst living in a shared environment offers many shared benefits, shared physical structures also mean shared risks.
When it comes to the ongoing threat of persistent timber pests like termites, the danger is distinctly collective. Termites simply do not respect the boundaries between lots; an issue that starts quietly in one ground-floor unit can spread through a web of shared walls long before anyone notices.
With shared landscaping, garden beds and adjoining construction creating multiple potential entry points for the whole building, proactive strata termite control is essential for committees, managers and residents alike…
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Most committees are surprised to learn that renewal options in caretaking and letting agreements aren’t just a formality—they can be used to end an agreement. While it might seem like the caretaker or letting agent simply has a right to extend the agreement, it’s often not that simple.
There are conditions that need to be met, and if they’re not, the committee may have more control than expected. Understanding how options work is key when renewal time comes around.
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Annual General Meetings are rarely anyone’s idea of a fun evening. Most strata unit owners and committee members attend because they care about their building, want to make responsible decisions, and would prefer to get through the agenda without turning what could be a 30-minute meeting into an endurance event.
Yet nearly every committee has encountered that owner…
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There are many articles and information sheets on who is responsible for certain maintenance works. But many disputes arise over how a body corporate has attempted to approve maintenance being carried out which it accepts it is responsible for. In this article, we explore procedural errors that can arise despite a body corporate having the best of intentions to carry out the required work.
Like anything to do with bodies corporate, especially those in Queensland, there is a process and procedure to follow, and decisions must be made prior to any action being taken. When faced with large, expensive and complex works contracts, often the devil is in the detail – and that detail can easily be missed, particularly when there is pressure for works to be carried out urgently.
I will not go into chapter and verse of the process and resolution types required to approve certain maintenance and repair works. Instead, I wish to stress the importance of getting the process and procedure for approving works right. That importance is illustrated by a case study of Oceana on Broadbeach. While not a decision regarding maintenance works, this case study demonstrates how non-compliance with minor technicalities can be disruptive and detrimental to a body corporate’s position…
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Strata communities across Australia should be aware of upcoming energy rate changes that are expected to impact operating costs in the months ahead.
With wholesale electricity prices fluctuating and network costs rising, many providers are forecasting noticeable increases across residential and commercial sectors…
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It has observed a significant increase in the use of drone technology across the building and construction industry, particularly within strata and Multi Residential environments. Once considered a niche tool, drones are now being adopted as a practical and efficient solution for building inspections, maintenance planning, cleaning operations, and safety compliance.
With advancements in high-resolution imaging, thermal scanning, LiDAR capability, and automated cleaning systems, drone technology is increasingly supporting more informed decision-making, improved safety outcomes, and reduced reliance on traditional access methods…
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Electricity prices across Queensland are shifting again, with recent Electricity Market Update data showing rising costs and increased volatility. For strata committees and owners, this matters—because energy is one of the most significant and unpredictable operating expenses in a building. Understanding what’s driving these changes can help committees make more confident, informed decisions.
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Many Queensland strata committees are currently receiving notices from service providers introducing a fuel levy surcharge. These notices are becoming more common across cleaning, gardening, waste, and maintenance services.
The key question for committees isn’t just whether the levy applies—but why it’s being introduced and what it means for your scheme’s overall costs.
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