UTILITY INFRASTRUCTURE – THE 5 W’S OF INTERCOM SYSTEMS Why Responsibility of Utility Infrastructure Matters Intercom systems are one of the most common causes of confusion for strata committees. When they fail, residents expect quick repairs — but responsibility depends on where the fault lies and who benefits from that part of the utility infrastructure […]

LAYERED SCHEMES: GETTING VOTING DIRECTION RIGHT When it comes to layered strata schemes in Queensland, decision-making can become more complex than in a standard community titles scheme. That’s because each subsidiary body corporate (SBC) not only manages its own scheme but also participates in the Principal Body Corporate (PBC), which governs shared facilities and expenses […]

MACKAY MAINTENANCE SEMINAR NEXT WEEK! Following the hugely successful Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast events, the Smart Strata Community Education Seminar Series now heads north — with the Mackay Maintenance Seminar happening next week! This marks the third stop in our statewide series, themed Clarifying Maintenance & Improvement Obligations for common property, lot boundaries, and […]

MODERNISING LIFTS WITHOUT STARTING FROM SCRATCH Extend your lift’s life with less disruption and smarter upgrades Following on from Part 1 How Long Should Your Building’s Lift Last? When a lift begins to show its age, many committees and building owners assume the only option is a full replacement. It’s an understandable reaction as lifts […]

AIR CONDITIONERS – WHOSE RESPONSIBILITY ARE THEY? In our warm, Queensland climate, it is very common for air conditioners to be installed in community titles schemes.  Some will have been installed as part of the original building design and construction.  Others are “retrofitted” to existing buildings by individual owners as an improvement to their property.  […]

GOLD COAST MAINTENANCE SEMINAR NEXT WEEK — 5TH EXPERT PANELIST INTRODUCED! There’s still time to register! The Smart Strata Community Education Seminar Series is in full swing, with the Gold Coast Maintenance Seminar happening next week. This marks the second stop in our statewide program on Clarifying Maintenance & Improvement Obligations – Common property, lot […]

COMMITTEE CONFLICT: UNDERSTANDING THE STRATA MANAGER’S ROLE Serving on a body corporate committee is both rewarding and challenging. With different personalities, competing priorities, and the pressures of decision-making, it’s no surprise that conflict between committee members sometimes arises. While disagreements are natural, unresolved disputes can stall decision-making, strain relationships, and impact the entire community. Importantly, […]

EXCLUSIVE USE AREAS – WHAT IS A SPECIFIC PROVISION AND WHERE DO THEY START AND STOP? Acknowledging the article prepared by Grace Lawyers (found here: Exclusive Use Areas—Who Really Pays for Maintenance?), this article continues the series by looking more closely at what a specific provision is, and some of the common problem areas that […]

MAINTENANCE SEMINARS: SUNSHINE COAST NEXT WEEK & 4TH EXPERT LAWYER PANELIST INTRODUCED There’s still time to register! The first stop in our Smart Strata Community Education Seminar Series is almost here, with the Sunshine Coast Maintenance Seminar happening next week. This event marks the first round in our series on Clarifying Maintenance & Improvement Obligations […]

BUYER’S REMORSE – WHAT YOU SIGNED IS WHAT YOU OWN Buying a new apartment or townhouse — especially off-the-plan — is exciting. You’re shown glossy brochures, stunning artist impressions and promises of a vibrant lifestyle. But what often gets missed in all the excitement is the fine print in the contract of sale. That’s where […]

EXCLUSIVE USE AREAS—WHO REALLY PAYS FOR MAINTENANCE? Maintenance responsibilities in bodies corporate can be complex, especially when exclusive use areas are involved. While the general rule is that the body corporate maintains common property, this obligation can shift when a specific area is granted exclusively to a lot owner. This article explores the legal framework, […]

HOW TO DISPOSE OF COMMON PROPERTY WITHOUT DISPOSING OF COMMON PROPERTY There are several reasons why a body corporate might want to dispose of common property within the scheme. For example, a facility may become too costly to maintain, a facility may be put to a better use or the body corporate may wish to […]