THE CHRISTMAS STRATA RUSH: WHY IT HAPPENS—AND WHY WE ALL NEED TO TAKE A BREATH As the year draws to a close and workplaces prepare for the traditional two-week shutdown, something entirely predictable—but still always surprising—happens across the strata industry: the Christmas Rush. Anyone who has worked in strata, legal, accounting, construction, real estate, or […]

WHAT TO DO IF YOUR BODY CORPORATE RECEIVES A PAYMENT CLAIM Payment Claims and Pitfalls: What Bodies Corporate Must Know Bodies corporate in Queensland are often involved in building projects, from minor repairs to major upgrades. With construction comes the risk of payment disputes, especially with contractors issuing payment claims under the Building Industry Fairness […]

STOPPING SMALL GLASS ISSUES BECOMING BIG PROBLEMS A Preventative Maintenance Guide for Strata Committees A tiny chip, a sticky sliding door or a window that does not sit quite right can seem harmless enough. But in strata buildings, these small glass issues often become big and expensive problems when left untreated. For committees, understanding early […]

COMMUNICATION STYLES: ADAPTING FOR BETTER COMMITTEE OUTCOMES “A good strata manager doesn’t just know the legislation — they know how to translate it for every audience in adaptable communication styles.” Understanding Different Communication Styles No two committees are the same. Some prefer detailed reports and written correspondence, while others value quick phone calls or informal […]

HOW TO DRAFT MOTIONS FOR YOUR BODY CORPORATE Submitting a motion to your body corporate is one way owners can help make decisions about how their community titles scheme is run. A motion is a request for action, and whether it’s a request for something to be maintained, proposing a new by-law or seeking approval […]

PROTECTING BUILDINGS THROUGH PASSIVE FIRE Keeping Multi-Residential Buildings Safe Through Effective Passive Fire Management. In multi-residential buildings, passive fire protection plays a critical but often overlooked role in safeguarding occupants. While alarms, sprinklers, and extinguishers are familiar features of fire safety, the systems hidden within walls, ceilings, and service shafts are just as vital. Fire-rated […]

VARYING CARETAKING AND LETTING AGREEMENTS – IT TAKES TWO, BABY If, as Mr. Shakespeare once postulated, all the world’s a stage and, further if, as no one ever postulated (until now), all community titles schemes were musical theatre productions… (let’s pause here for a moment – imagine your body corporate manager tap-dancing into the AGM […]

SCHOOLIES HIGH-RISE SAFETY & STRATA READINESS A Practical Schoolies Guide for Body Corporate Committees & Building Managers Why this Schoolies guide? Schoolies brings a short, intense period of high occupancy—often with guests unfamiliar with high-rise living. The risks are predictable (balcony misuse, false fire alarms, lift abuse, overcrowding, noise) and the controls are well understood. […]

COMMITTEES NEED TO MANAGE FUNDS FOR THE LONG-TERM Three things to know: Committees must give considered thought to how they spend body corporate money. Statutory obligations exist to maintain common property. Committees must take financial decisions with the full strata community in mind. As lawyers, we’re used to dealing with other people’s money. Usually that […]

SINKING FUNDS & FORECASTS – A COMMITTEE MEMBER’S GUIDE As a committee member, you play a central role in safeguarding your building’s long-term financial health. Well-managed sinking funds and a realistic forecast are among your most valuable tools to achieve that. This guide explains how they work in Queensland strata schemes, how forecasts are compiled, […]

BRISBANE MAINTENANCE SEMINAR NEXT WEEK – HALFWAY WRAP-UP Halfway Through Our October Seminar Series — A Strong Start We’ve officially reached the halfway mark of the Smart Strata Community Education Seminar Series, with three highly successful events completed across the Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast, and Mackay. This series, centred on Clarifying Maintenance & Improvement Obligations […]

UNDERSTANDING PROPERTY BOUNDARIES Managing a strata property involves balancing shared responsibilities and individual ownership. Committees and strata managers must ensure that buildings remain safe, functional, and compliant—while understanding who is responsible for each area of maintenance and repair. One of the most important aspects of effective strata management is knowing exactly where property boundaries lie. […]