What are the body corporate meeting cancellation rules without explanation at short notice for an EGM in QLD? Are there consequences or options for owners when no update or rescheduling occurs?
Our body corporate committee cancelled the EGM thirty minutes before it was scheduled to commence. The committee gave no reason for the cancellation. The strata manager advised that an update would be issued "shortly".
Over four days have passed since the cancellation, and despite numerous requests for an explanation, no information has been offered.
- Can the body corporate committee cancel an EGM?
- If the EGM is cancelled with short notice and no reason is given, or if it is rescheduled promptly, do penalties apply?
- What recourse do owners have?
In QLD, the body corporate committee generally has the right to cancel a meeting.
Yes, the committee generally has the right to cancel a meeting, as they are usually the ones who call it.
There is no direct penalty for this. Presumably, there are financial considerations for the cost of preparing and cancelling the meeting, as well as reputational and relationship costs associated with how owners perceive the committee. There may be other costs depending on the meeting's content and the absence of a decision.
What recourse do you have? It may depend on the meeting's content, the reason for cancellation, whether it will be rescheduled, and the costs associated with the delay. There may have been a valid reason for cancelling the meeting, and it will be re-held; alternatively, it may have become redundant, and that will be that. Otherwise, consider calling the meeting yourselves if you have a sufficient number of owners. Alternatively, you could take the matter to the commissioner's office or consider replacing the committee.
If it were me, I would write to the committee and ask for a clear explanation within a fixed time limit – 7 days? - to find out why they cancelled the meeting and see what they say. The response will inform your next steps.
William Marquand Tower Body Corporate E: willmarquand@towerbodycorporate.com.au P: 07 5609 4924
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Will Marquand joined the Tower team as a General Manager and Senior Strata manager in 2020. He has widespread experience across all forms of commercial, industrial and residential schemes. He believes in proactive, ethical strata management and hopes to provide Tower’s customers with the knowledge and support required to take their schemes forward into the next generation of body corporate management. Will has experience working across residential, commercial and industrial schemes. A former journalist and teacher, Will's excellent communication skills help Tower grow its expanding business. William is a regular contributor to LookUpStrata.
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