How is unit of liability calculated in a precinct owners corporation?

By admin,

I'm a member of a newly formed owners corporation (OC) committee for a new apartment building. We are part of a larger precinct that includes several other buildings. All buildings within the precinct pay into a precinct maintenance fund. Our building has its own OC, and all the other buildings belong to another OC, both managed by the same OC manager.

A lot owner with majority voting rights installed unapproved CCTV cameras and refuses to allow footage to be viewed — can they be removed?

By admin,

The CCTV cameras in my block of twelve apartments and two shops are owned an operated by the owner of the shops and one apartment.

There was no approval of authority given to install theses cameras, and they have never been used for any useful purpose.

The owner says that viewing is on a “need to know basis” in other words nobody else can view this footage.

Our Strata manager for some reason is unable to have this matter rectified, the owner is the self-appointed secretary, and because of being given three company nominee votes has the majority of voting rights.

Strata manager commissioned a capital works plan update without OC approval?

By admin,

Our strata manager commissioned an update of our capital works plan without notice or consultation with the strata committee or owners corporation (OC). The OC was charged for the strata manager's time, with contractor charges still to come.

A lot owner has installed CCTV cameras throughout the building with feeds going to his apartment — is this legal?

By admin,

The owner of the penthouse in our building has put a camera on the driveway and is in the process of installing additional cameras within the building. He has got the CCTV feeds going to his apartment so he has control of all footage.

Is this legal? He does not have permission nor has he advised any other lot owners in the building.

Also, shouldn't the building manager / caretaker be the person who accesses the CCTV footage?

An owner installed CCTV without body corporate approval and a previous AGM discussion was never minuted — what happens now?

By admin,

As a unit owner in a 4 unit complex, I have installed CCTV. On a previous Body Corp AGM, the question of CCTV was discussed, but the owners could not agree to a system that would satisfy everybody's needs. It was, however, agreed that individual owners could arrange their own CCTV.

Unfortunately, it was not mentioned in the Minutes of the meeting, and the Body Corp says that the permission to install CCTV is null and void.

Risks of using unlicensed tradespeople for body corporate common property repairs

By admin,

I'm an owner in a commercial scheme in QLD. Recently, the committee proposed maintenance work for fallen wall tiles and rectified some plumbing issues. The chair appointed a handyman to remove old tiles, sand off existing gyprock walls and retile the walls. A plumber carried out the plumbing work.

Is it against QLD legislation to hire unlicensed trade for tiling work on common area toilets? The chair insisted that by breaking the invoice into small invoices, we can bypass using a licensed tradesperson as the invoiced amounts fall within the handyman's limit.