Issues

Water leaks

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We just got a letter from Urban Utilities suggesting that a Body Corporate that we manage has a water leak.  We take such a letter very seriously because we know that water leaks can be very expensive.  However, in this case, the Body Corporate was a relatively new development.  The automatic letter generated by the Urban Utilities computer […]

Legislation

New schemes and non-structural defects

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The developer (and building contractor) is the first person to contact when a defect is found in a new scheme.  If they are unresponsive, then recourse to the Queensland Building and Construction Commission may be possible.  The time to lodge a non-structural defect issue with the QBCC is quite short.  Full details are on their website – www.qbcc.qld.gov.au.  Once […]

Insurance

Insurance denied!

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We heard recently of a case where a Body Corporate on a Standard Format Plan was denied insurance.  The buildings in the Body Corporate had common walls and so the insurance needed to cover the buildings as well as the common property.  An insurance inspection report had uncovered deficiencies in many of the lots (related to the […]

Insurance

Insurance confusion

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In Building Format Plans, the Body Corporate is responsible to insure the buildings on scheme land.   Most insurance policies include cover for anything that is ‘plumbed in’ to the building.  This would include stoves, airconditioning units, solar panels, rainwater tanks.  Insurance coverage addresses events such as fire, theft, motor fusion, storm and consequential damage.  It does not address […]

Best practice

Sinking funds

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Generally, we use an accredited valuer to make sinking fund forecasts for a Body Corporate that we fully manage.  Sometimes, we encounter committees and lot owners who disagree with the forecast that has been prepared.  It is quite acceptable for a committee, that feels competent to assess the sinking fund outlays that might occur on their property […]

Legislation

Body Corporate history is important

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A friend of mine is a Body Corporate Manager for a small commercial Body Corporate in regional Queensland.  When the Body Corporate was established, some years ago, the original owner secured a lease with an independent supermarket.  The lease covers four of the lots that are now owned by three separate parties.  The internal walls for the four […]