Question: When I was previously on our committee I had an email contact list for the owners. As a lot owner, can I email the list if there are issues I feel should be discussed?
When I was on our committee I had an email contact list for the owners. I have since updated it with information received from our strata manager.
As I am no longer on the committee, would I be able to use this list to contact owners for permission to use their details as a personal contact list if there are body corporate or building issues I feel should be discussed?
Answer: Queensland’s body corporate legislation doesn’t make any mention of the purpose of or reason for using a copy of the roll.
This is an interesting question. Queensland’s body corporate legislation doesn’t make any mention of the purpose of or reason for using a copy of the roll (and email addresses on it). Nor is access to body corporate records dependent upon the purpose or reason for access.
Let me put it this way: there is nothing in body corporate legislation stopping you from doing what you propose. That said, you run the risk of people not being pleased that you have used their information this way. I know that people can be very sensitive about any perceived intrusion into their ‘privacy’. You may therefore be better off, in the interests of harmony, to go through the proper process of seeking access to the body corporate roll, as a body corporate record. The added benefit of that is that your list of addresses may have changed since you last obtained it, so a formal records request would hopefully get you the most current version.
I’m going to take a small logic leap here and assume that you are relatively certain there might be ‘issues’ that will need to be discussed in future. Your strategy of contacting owners is therefore a good one. Just remember that while discussion is great, decisions are what ultimately need to be made in a body corporate and for that purpose, your right as owner is to submit motions to both committee and general meetings, as appropriate, to get actions on what you see as ‘issues’.
Chris Irons Strata Solve E: chris@stratasolve.com.au P: 0419 805 898