The Role of The Body Corporate Manager
The role of the body corporate manager, such as the Jocumsen Property Group, is to ensure that the body corporate scheme is efficiently and effectively managed on behalf of all owners. This includes ensuring compliance with the Body Corporate and Community Management Act (Qld) 1997 and other applicable legislation.
Often a body corporate manager works as the secretary of the body corporate committee. In consultation with the elected chairperson, the manager will set dates for committee meetings, the annual general meeting, extraordinary meetings and in doing so prepare meeting papers such as agendas, minutes and financial reports.
The body corporate manager will follow specific instructions issued by the body corporate committee. In some instances, the body corporate committee may delegate some of its authority to the manager so that routine matters such as electricity bills can be paid by their due date.
It is important to note that a body corporate manager can only act when provided with specific instructions from the body corporate committee.
The budget and body corporate fees
A body corporate manager will use their knowledge to provide advice to the body corporate committee on the amount of money needed to ensure that the building and gardens are maintained, appropriate insurance is in place and sufficient funds are available to pay utilities. Advice is also offered on the amount of money required to enable the body corporate committee to undertake its functions.
Once the funding amount has been determined, the body corporate manager will then recommend the body corporate levies (payable by each owner) in accordance with a detailed formula that applies for that specific building.
It is important to remember that both the amount of money required and the amount payable by lot owners is set by the body corporate, not the body corporate manager, and that amount is approved by all lot owners (a lot is usually an individual unit, house, apartment etc.).
Building maintenance
The roles of property managers and body corporate managers are often confused. Unless a specific agreement exists with the body corporate manager, it is unusual for them to take responsibility for the maintenance of a building.
When requested by the body corporate committee, the body corporate manager may seek quotes from building maintenance firms (such as electricians, plumbers, painters etc) and gardeners. However, the task of ensuring that the maintenance company turns up and performs the work to an acceptable standard generally rests with the body corporate committee.
In larger schemes it is usual for the body corporate to engage an on-site manager to ensure that building maintenance is undertaken and they should be approached rather than the body corporate manager.
Requests for information
The chairperson and other members of the body corporate committee are elected by property owners to oversee the management of the scheme. Therefore they should be a resident or owner’s first point of contact rather than the body corporate manager.
A body corporate manager may not immediately answer a question from a resident or owner but refer it to the committee for their consideration. This is because the body corporate committee is responsible for managing the property and the body corporate manager is simply following instructions of the committee. Also, there is a cost incurred when answering questions and body corporate fees can be kept low when questions are answered by the committee rather than by the body corporate manager.
With our specialist expertise, the Jocumsen Property Group can help you to define the role of the property manager. Please contact us for more information.