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BODY CORPORATE FINANCE SEMINARS: REGISTRATIONS NOW OPEN!

Strata Community Education Seminar Series October 2026!

You live in a body corporate. You pay levies. But do you really know where that money goes?

Registrations are now open for the Strata Community Education Seminar Series October 2026, presented by Smart Strata in partnership with Archers the Strata Professionals.

Following the release of our October seminar topic earlier this month, we’re excited to officially invite Queensland’s strata communities to join us as the series travels across five regions this October.

Committee Essentials: Understanding Body Corporate Finances – Where Does the Money Go? Demystifying Body Corporate Finances…

IS YOUR SINKING FUND FORECAST STILL ON TRACK?

A Sinking Fund Forecast is an important part of a body corporates long-term financial planning. But preparing the forecast is only part of the process.

Major building components and common property assets will require replacement or renewal at different points in a property’s life. A Sinking Fund Forecast helps identify anticipated capital and non-recurring expenditure and considers how much money will need to be accumulated over time to meet those future costs.

For committees, the important question isn’t simply whether a forecast exists. It is whether the forecast continues to provide a useful picture of the body corporates anticipated expenditure and funding requirements.

So, what should committees understand about their Sinking Fund Forecast – and what should they be looking for?

MEET ANDREW STAEHR: PLANNING BEYOND THE BUDGET

Mackay Next Week! Our October Strata Community Education Seminar Series is continuing across Queensland, and as we prepare for our next event, it’s time to introduce another expert joining our panels – Andrew Staehr, Director of Strata Compliance Solutions.

Andrew is part of every regional panel throughout the October series, bringing a long-term planning perspective to our discussion on body corporate finances.

From identifying future capital expenditure and understanding when major assets may require replacement, through to Sinking Fund Forecasts and planning for costs that may still be years away, Andrew will help connect the financial decisions being made today with the future needs of a body corporate…

SMALL ISSUES, BIGGER COSTS

When you manage or maintain a strata property, it is easy to focus on the jobs that are already on the schedule. The lawns need mowing, the gardens need attention, the common areas need cleaning and the bins need servicing.

But what about the things nobody has specifically asked you to look at? Regular contractors are often on a property more frequently than many other people involved in its day-to-day management. That means they can sometimes notice small changes or problems simply because they are there regularly.

Those observations can be useful, particularly when they are reported early…

SOMETIMES IT TAKES LEAPS AND BOUNDS: GETTING MAJOR SPENDING APPROVED

Proper and timely maintenance is one of the most important parts of administering a community titles scheme. A body corporate has a strict statutory duty to maintain its common property (including utility infrastructure) and assets in a good and structurally sound condition. It is not enough to merely take ‘reasonable steps’ or ‘attempt’ to keep…

WHO DOES WHAT ON A COMMITTEE?

One of the most common questions we receive is whether there are specific sections of legislation that clearly define the responsibilities of each committee member. The reality is that references to committee roles and responsibilities are spread across multiple sections that outline the functions each committee member may perform. In some instances, what is assumed to form part of a certain committee member’s role is not addressed in the legislation at all.

The committee is tasked with the administrative and day-to-day running of the body corporate. They make decisions on behalf of the body corporate, provided the decisions are within their spending limit and are not restricted issues. The committee must also put into effect the lawful decisions of the body corporate.

The aim of this article is to provide a description of each role within your committee and hopefully debunk some myths that exist about them within the wonderful world of bodies corporate…

BODY CORPORATE FINANCIAL DECISIONS: MEET PETER HUNT

Following the opening of our October seminar series on the Sunshine Coast, we’re heading to the Gold Coast next Wednesday!

As our Strata Community Education Seminar Series continues across Queensland, we’re excited to introduce our next lawyer guest speaker, Peter Hunt, Director at Mathews Hunt Legal, who will share his legal perspective on body corporate financial decisions.

As our panel follows the financial journey of a body corporate, Peter will explore an important part of the picture – what happens when financial decisions intersect with legal obligations, committee authority and the appropriate approval processes?