QLD: What Can Owners Do If a Body Corporate Committee Selectively Enforces Bylaws?

Published March 26, 2026 By Todd Garsden, Mahoneys Leave a Comment Last Updated March 26, 2026

This article discusses owners’ options when committees act unreasonably through selective bylaw enforcement body corporate practices.

Question: Our committee has sent contravention notices to an owner while other residents who are performing the same or other breaches of the bylaws are not dealt with. The committee does not seem to be acting reasonably. How do we deal with a situation like this?

Answer: I would suggest sending a BCCM Form 1 to the committee.

A committee has an obligation to act reasonably and to enforce by-laws. It would be hard to justify selectively enforcing a by-law against some owners and not others.

I would suggest sending a BCCM Form 1 to the committee. This then gives a timeframe for the committee to take enforcement action. If enforcement action does not take place, you can then take enforcement action directly.

This post appears in Strata News #582.

Todd Garsden
Mahoneys
E: tgarsden@mahoneys.com.au
P: 07 3007 3753

About Todd Garsden, Mahoneys

Our clients include some of the largest bodies corporate in Queensland and northern New South Wales, but our experience spans from Perth to Port Douglas. With extensive experience in this area, we understand the body corporate industry and how it has changed due to the rise of apartment living. We also understand how individual body corporate committees function. The team are experienced in dealing with issues that arise in regard to community title schemes. We know the risks inherent in the process and are adept at dealing with all types of situations.

This gives our clients confidence that we will provide them with the best advice and advocacy in all body corporate and strata matters. Our lawyers have guided clients through all types of transactions and disputes in our years of practice.

Todd is a regular contributor to LookUpStrata. You can take a look at Todd’s articles here .

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QLD: What Can Owners Do If a Body Corporate Committee Selectively Enforces Bylaws?

Question: Our committee has sent contravention notices to an owner while other residents who are performing the same or other breaches of the bylaws are not dealt with. The committee does not seem to be acting reasonably. How do we deal with a situation like this?

Answer: I would suggest sending a BCCM Form 1 to the committee.

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Question: Our committee has sent contravention notices to an owner while other residents who are performing the same or other breaches of the bylaws are not dealt with. The committee does not seem to be acting reasonably. How do we deal with a situation like this?

Answer: I would suggest sending a BCCM Form 1 to the committee.

About Todd Garsden, Mahoneys

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