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Strata owners and residents should be preparing for changes to Queensland’s body corporate laws, body corporate experts say.
The proposed amendments to the Body Corporate and Community Management (BCCM) Act 1997 – which involves changes to how pets, smoking and towing cars are treated – among other amendments, have been welcomed by body corporate experts.
Hynes Legal director Frank Higginson says current laws have been creating huge problems for those living in units.
“Pets, smoking and overstaying in the visitor car parks rank among residents’ greatest bugbears. But under the existing legislation, there is no such thing as a pet-free building or a smoke-free building, and very little that can be done to tow offending cars,” Mr Higginson said.
“All that is set to change if the proposed amendments are adopted. Unit owners and residents need to understand what the changes mean for their everyday lives.”
The proposed changes were part of a Queensland University of Technology review – Body Corporate Governance Issues: By-Laws, Debt Recovery and Scheme Termination – of the state’s property laws.
After the review was released, the Queensland government asked for insights from owners, property managers and body corporate personnel before 5 May.
Archers – The Strata Professionals partner Grant Mifsud said strata owners, residents and property managers should have an understanding of the recommendations in the review.
“The review highlights the body corporate’s ability to ban pets, place restrictions on smoking, tow cars and issue fines for bylaw breaches,” Mr Mifsud said.
“It also covers the inclusion of bylaws in sales and rental documents, whether the majority of owners should be able to force their neighbours to sell for redevelopment, as well as improved methods to recover unpaid levies.”
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