Body corporate committees

Welcome to your go-to resource for navigating the complexities of a body corporate. As a member of a body corporate committee, you play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth operation and governance of shared properties. Whether you’re a seasoned committee member or new to the responsibilities, our learning hub is designed to provide you with essential information, resources, and expert guidance.

Here, you’ll find:

a comprehensive collection of links to relevant body corporate legislation and official websites
on-demand recordings of our exclusive committee webinars
a FAQ section with content spanning many of the contentious topics
you personal ‘Ask our Experts’ question box

We hope this tool will become an invaluable resource to empower your committee with knowledge and insights. Just another way BCsystems is committed to providing valuable resources and education, free of charge, to the body corporate industry.

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By-laws

Dealing with a by-law breach

Strata Operations Manager Matthew Savage answers an "Ask the Expert" query regarding how to deal with a by-law breach.

Body corporate by-laws

What are body corporate by-laws and what do they regulate in a community titles scheme? This easy to understand article covers the basics.

Body Corporate Entry Power

Did you know a body corporate also has entry power, applicable to both owner-occupiers and tenants under certain 'emergency' circumstances.

By-laws: The basics

By-laws regulate what can and cannot happen inside a body corporate scheme. This article takes you through the basics of strata by-laws.

Code of conduct and responsibilities

Understanding conflicts of interest in a body corporate

This article explores conflicts of interest in a body corporate and the difference between lot owners and committee members.

Responsibilities of the body corporate committee

This article provides an overview of the responsibilities of committee members in a body corporate. It covers the roles of the chairperson, secretary, and treasurer, along with tips for…

Committee Advice

Encouraging owners to become involved in the body corporate committee

While owners undeniably have a vested interest in a smoothly operating and well-maintained complex, they may still hesitate to become actively involved in the body corporate committee for various…

The art of amicable dispute resolution

Regardless of where you live, disputes are an inevitable part of communal living. Whether in a bustling inner city neighbourhood, a tranquil suburban street, or within the confines of…

5 tips for a successful body corporate committee

Being a part of the committee can require a significant amount of work and effort. As a committee member, you have responsibilities that go beyond just attending meetings. We've…

Who can be on a body corporate committee

This shared article from Mahoneys Lawyers discusses who can be on a body corporate committee.

Committee meetings: Best practice

What is best practice when it comes to committee meetings? In this article, BCsystems will share our tips on running committee meetings + VOCs

Ordinary Committee Member: How to become extraordinary

The legislation refers to non-executive committee members as ‘ordinary committee members’ – but at BCsystems we don’t think you are ordinary.

Secretary: 5 insider hints

The secretary of the body corporate often plays an organisational and generally administrative role in the committee and the body corporate.

How to be an effective Chairperson

The chairperson of the body corporate often plays a leading role in the committee and the body corporate community more generally.

Heirarchy of the body corporate

The hierarchy of the body corporate

In this article we look at the hierarchy of the body corporate including the committee, body corporate manager, and the caretaker.

Levies

The top myths about body corporate levies

In this article, our goal is to dispel the top 5 myths surrounding body corporate levies. By gaining a deeper understanding of these crucial financial contributions, we can foster…

Sinking funds and administrative funds explained

The administrative funds and sinking funds are both common to bodies corporate, however the expenses they cover are very different.

What are body corporate special levies?

A body corporate special levy is an additional levy issued to owners over and above the usual administrative and sinking fund levies.

When should the sinking fund forecast be reviewed

To ascertain the amount of sinking funds required for a body corporate to operate, a sinking fund forecast is prepared.

Rising building costs and sinking fund levies

At the time of writing this article, building and construction costs are reaching record heights. What are the reasons for this trend?

Body Corporate Fees, Levies and Budgets - Your Complete Guide

Body corporate fees (levies) pay for the operation of the body corporate which maintains and manages the common property in your scheme.

Parking

Why you can’t park in the visitor-allocated spaces?

Parking is, and always will be, a key area of contention for the body corporate, when visitor-allocated spots are often misused by residents for their own convenience. In this…

What's changing in the Body Corporate and Community Management Act

This article covers the most recent changes to the Body Corporate and Community Management Act. Published with the permission of Mahoneys.

Dealing with parking problems in a body corporate

This article covers common parking-related disputes that occur within a body corporate and offers strategies for resolving them.

Pets

Webinar: New Pet Laws

Current pet legislation

Understanding the government’s stance on pet ownership is important, especially considering the stringent regulations governing body corporate, which significantly influences how it functions.

In 2022, Queensland underwent a significant legislation change, giving tenants the right to own pets. While this primarily impacted tenants and landlords, it serves as a clear indication that the government supports pet ownership for both owners and tenants, unless there is a compelling reason not to.

This is a big change from previous approaches, highlighting the societal shift towards pets as integral members of the family unit.

For owner-occupiers, this pet right was already in place within bodies corporate. While an approval process was, and still is, required, the focus has shifted from asking whether a person should be allowed to have a pet, to the mechanics of how to make that happen.

Landlords in Queensland are no longer permitted to reject pets in their properties unless, as previously mentioned, there is a compelling reason not to. The grounds for refusal are outlined in the law and are very narrow.

Reasonable grounds to refuse a pet application

These are some acceptable grounds to refuse a pet application in a body corporate scheme:

If the pet has a dangerous animal order against it
If it’s a banned dog breed in your local council area
If it’s an animal, but not considered a domestic pet – so a goat, llama or pig could be refused by the body corporate.
If there was more than a reasonable number of animals
If it was a commercial pet operation like doggy daycare
If the owner refused to have the pet vaccinated, microchipped or registered

As pets are now considered a right, committees can no longer make sweeping bans based on breeds, size, and potential barking issues. Refusals must be based only on the characteristics of the individual pet.

Acceptable grounds for refusing a pet application

13 Nov 23

Pets have long held a special place in our hearts and homes, and while pet ownership was already a right for owners with a body ...

Can a particular breed of dog be banned?

While some dogs may have a ‘reputation’ for being dangerous or aggressive, the body corporate must consider each pet application based on the characteristics of that particular animal.

Unless the dog has a) been issued with a dangerous dog notice or b) is a banned breed in your local council, the body corporate cannot reject the application based on reputation or personal bias.

Barking dogs

By-laws

Barking dogs in a body corporate

In a body corporate where neighbours share spaces, barking dogs can pose a challenge to maintaining harmony and respect. This article explains how to manage excessive barking in a body corporate and outlines the responsibilities of pet owners

Can a dog over 10kg be refused?

The short answer is no. Weight cannot be a deciding factor on whether to approve a do in a body corporate development. It has no baring on whether a dog will bark, bite or be a nuisance or not.

Like the type of breed of a dog, weight is arbitrary and should be removed from the body corporate by-laws.

Smoking

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Body corporate committees

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Body corporate legislation

Commissioner for body corporate and community management

State government

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