Body Corporate Levies: Why Are They So Expensive?
One of the first questions people ask when they’re buying a unit is “how much are the levies?” It’s a smart question because it does no one any favours to buy a property they can’t afford to hold. The body corporate levies are a large part of those holding costs. Savvy buyers take the current […]
Why Is My Body Corporate Insurance Claim Taking So Long?
I’m a lot owner in a scheme in Brisbane. Our townhouse (and many other in the complex) was damaged by the storm on 31/1/2015. All damaged caused by branches falling off large gum tree in body corporate common area. It’s been more than 3 months, nothing has been fixed (including other lots in the complex). […]
Question: Has My Vote Been Unfairly Invalidated?
To My BodyCorpReport.com.au I believe my (& 11 other) votes were incorrectly disqualified at a Body Corp. EGM and would appreciate your opinion in the following scenario: I would appreciate your opinion, based on the above scenario, whether the criteria applied to invalidate my vote are correct or not. A further point to mention, beyond […]
How to Get Building and Construction Defects Rectified
I had this email recently: Altered slightly to preserve anonymity. Our building is 8 years old. From day 1 we have pretty well had problems with a leaking roof. Each time we called the builder to rectify they have come and done a patch up job. With the heavy rains, this has been an ongoing issue. […]
Case Study: The Consequences of Apathy in Bodies Corporate
Apathy in a body corporate is cause for alarm. It’s also a problem that is rife. Many people buy a unit with nothing but a rudimentary understanding bodies corporate and how they work and then proceed to ignore and complain about the body corporate as if it’s of no relevance to them at all. Unfortunately for a […]
Show me the body corporate legislation that says that!
People ask me questions, all the time, which I answer, not all the time but quite often. Please don’t think I think I have all the answers, because really, really don’t. But I can, and do, have an insight to offer which I’m happy to share. One the things I find the most frustrating though […]
What Happens When Body Corporate Budgets Are Not Adopted
The biggest complaint about strata schemes is that the levies are too high! Particularly since levies have a tendency to increase, usually by a small amount year in year out. When they vote at general meetings most owners (if they vote) will vote yes to the legislative motions which include things like confirming the financials and insurance and […]
15 Signs of a Healthy Body Corporate
A healthy body corporate is what every purchaser wants when they buy a unit. A pre purchase strata report is all about investigating the scheme to find that out. How exactly do we do that? I did a search where the client specifically requested that I look for evidence on the effectiveness of the Committee. Luckily for me […]
3 Common Disputes with Building Managers
One of the questions under the “Contracts” section in our Pre Purchase Strata Report is: Are there any disputes with the Building Manager? The question is there because disputes with Building Managers do come up, and they have the potential to be both very expensive and very damaging to the sense of community within the scheme. Essentially […]
5 Simple Tips For Stress Free Unit Ownership
I’m a strata searcher. Most people look at me blankly when I say that so now days I tell them it’s a fancy phrase that means I investigate body corporates. “Oh!” they reply and then proceed to tell me horror stories about their body corporate. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind. In fact, keep […]