In the realm of property ownership and management, the concept of a body corporate plays a pivotal role in ensuring the smooth operation and maintenance of multi-unit developments, such as apartment buildings, townhouses, and commercial complexes.
This intricate system involves various roles and responsibilities, each contributing to the effective functioning of the community and the preservation of property values. In this article we look at what is the body corporate and the roles of the body corporate manager, body corporate committee and the caretaker.
The term ‘body corporate’ refers to the collective group of property owners within a multi-unit development. This is represented by the dark green circle in our diagram.
Whenever the term ‘body corporate’ is encountered – whether on our website, in government documentation, or any other relevant context, it signifies the entirety of property owners as a unified entity.
The body corporate manager, also known as a strata manager, is the service contractor engaged by the body corporate to carry out delegated functions of the committee and the body corporate more broadly. A body corporate manager can be an individual, or it can be an organisation that specialises in the management of bodies corporate.
Their role is crucial in working with committees, lot owners, and tenants to ensure that the building is administered in accordance with the legislation with a specific focus on delivering secretarial and financial services to ensure the body corporate is appropriately guided in the best interests of all stakeholders involved.
The body corporate manager will also work closely with a caretaker, if your scheme has one, in ensuring that the scheme is maintained day-to-day.
The duties of a body corporate manager may include:
The body corporate committee are lot owners elected by the body corporate each year at the annual general meeting. The Committee is responsible for handling all administrative and governance matters within the body corporate and are the key decision makers on behalf of the body corporate day-to-day.
The Committee’s responsibilities may include:
The caretaker, often referred to as the building or onsite manager, is an individual or a company engaged by the body corporate as a service contractor to carry out delegated functions.
The caretaker’s primary role is to take instruction from the committee and the body corporate manager in overseeing the day-to-day operations on the ground and ensure the property is maintained, well-kept, secure and free of any hazards.
The Caretaker’s responsibilities may include:
The structure of the body corporate functions as a collaborative framework in which each entity plays a distinct role to ensure the effective management and maintenance of the property.
By working together, the body corporate manager, body corporate committee, and the caretaker create an environment where property owners can enjoy the benefits of shared amenities, services, and resources while adhering to rules and regulations that promote community harmony.
This article has been taken from he commissioner for the Body Corporate and Community Management Act and looks at spending limits in a body corporate – both committee spending limits and major spending limits.
Australians love to renovate. Whether you’re in a free-standing house, where the possibilities seem endless, or navigating the nuances of living within a body corporate community, the desire to personalise and enhance our homes is there. This article covers internal renovations to a townhouse or unit and what you can and can’t do without body corporate approval.
