Electric vehicles in strata are fast becoming a big issue, with more and more people wanting to charge their vehicles on-site.
What should a body corporate do?
The first thing a body corporate committee needs to do is make sure its by-laws provide that committee approval is needed before anyone installs any form of charger or charges from sockets in their car park or otherwise. The committee needs to act reasonably in making its decision, but there are many questions that arise from this issue.
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!
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.
It was Benjamin Franklin who said the two certainties of life are death and taxes. In the strata industry we’ve always added one more: apathy.
Those of us inside the industry often talk about owner apathy. We find it extraordinary that general meetings will be adjourned where there might only be 10% of people (or even less!) who choose to participate in the decision-making over what can be a very valuable asset.
The legendary spaghetti western The Good, The Bad and the Ugly came out almost 60 years ago, and while the movie is now a relic of old Hollywood, its name lives on in strataland. By-laws fall neatly into each of those three basic categories: good, bad or ugly.
A committee can authorise spending up to $200 by the number of lots in the scheme, unless a different amount has been set by ordinary resolution at general meeting. Where spending is above that limit, it can be authorised at general meeting.
When a developer proposes to build next door to a strata scheme, the body corporate needs to take care when considering any impacts that could flow from the development.
Three things to know about pet approvals: Amended pet approval decision timings are very pro-pet A body corporate has 21 days to respond to a pet application Failure to respond is a deemed ‘yes’ Further updates to strata pet regulations in Queensland The ink is barely dry on the new legislation governing strata in Queensland…
With legislation imminent, our panel of experts will discuss the key changes and what this means in reality for all stakeholders including how to navigate the upcoming changes. If you are a committee member or building manager, this topic is essential to your role so you can get up to speed with the correct information…
Three takeaways: Arguing over spending limitations may not be worth the grief it brings Communication with the Body Corporate is key A relationship of trust with a Body Corporate Committee will solve many problems ▶️ Watch the 2.5-minute video below 🔊 Listen to audio version Hills to die on in management rights We often talk about…
