Body Corporate Services Melbourne: Our Body Corp

Our Body Corp is one of the leading Body Corporate Management companies that provides professional body corporate services Australia-wide, including Melbourne, Sydney, Gold Coast, Brisbane, Adelaide, Perth, Queensland, Canberra, Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Western Australia.

As the population in Australia grows, urban areas are becoming highly dense. As less land is available close to the city, subdividing parcels of urban land to fit more properties is becoming more common. High-density living is the future.

If you own a property that is shared with other properties or lots within a building, you will also own a proportionate share in the units that make up the common property. Property owners are entitled to use the common property, which might include a common driveway and lockup garage, security, shared outdoor facilities, bike rack, garbage disposal area, physical amenities, post box room, concierge and much more.

Having more than two properties on a piece of land that share common property requires the creation of a corporate body. The corporate body facilitates the management of common property, which is shared by the residents who own properties or lots on the piece of land.

Most of the work is administrative, and it requires a comprehensive understanding of local laws and regulations. Professional Strata Manager exist to make compliance easy for those who need help.

What is a Body Corporate?

A Body Corporate Strata comprises all owners who share common property on a piece of land. Owners become members of the body corporate. The body corporate will exist throughout the life of the land, which will be subdivided with multiple property owners. Members will be added and removed as owners come and go.

Managing the body corporate requires the formation of a representative and nominated committee that an elected chairperson leads. Each state in Australia has legislative rules as to how the committee is formed, what its purpose is, how its responsibilities are defined, and other matters. Essentially, they are responsible for managing the day-to-day affairs of the common property.

Owners must pay levies to fund these operations. The rate of these levies is determined by the body corporate committee, in consultation with all members at the Annual General Meeting (AGM), prescribing a monetary rate per unit held in the common property. The levy will vary accordingly depending on the size of an owner’s property.

For those who are time-poor, committees tend to outsource their body corporate responsibilities to a professional strata manager. The committee oversees the strata manager's work to ensure that the management fees paid by the body corporate are returning a valuable and beneficial service.

Body Corporate Services

How Does Body Corporate Management Service Work?

Body corporate management requires experience, time, and diligence. Committee members must remain responsible and accountable because they represent the needs and interests of all owners who have properties on the piece of land. Whether they choose to outsource the management function or not, the committee has a strict duty to perform well in their roles.

The committee must maintain the common property, engage service providers, manage essential services, purchase sufficient insurance, raise levies, respond to owner requests, deal with disputes, liaise with local authorities, set expectations and rules, welcome new owners and residents and much more.

Most of the work is administrative, and it requires a comprehensive understanding of local laws and regulations. Professional strata managers exist to make compliance easy for those who need help.

Our Comprehensive Body of Corporate Management Services Include

At Our Body Corp, we offer three packages:

1. Owner-controlled package:

For those who wish to take complete control over strata property management, insource your body corporate management function with leading online strata management software. Manage your properties effectively with our new cloud-based solution which you can access anywhere and anytime. With leading security features, customisable tools and a quick and easy setup, you will be managing your properties efficiently immediately.

2. Administration support package (most popular):

If you want a bit of support or complete support, we also offer an administration support package or a fully-managed package. Depending on the number of properties you own, the complexities of body corporate management, the time you are willing to spend managing the properties and your experience in managing properties, we can help you with our qualified and experienced support team when you need it.

3. Fully managed package:

To help property owners self-manage their strata corporations online and save money, we have developed user-friendly solutions to help owners achieve their objectives. Worry less about processing body corporate fees, maintaining minutes of meetings and communicating notices to lot owners. With our online tool, it will boost your confidence, help you regain control and provide you with comfort knowing that you are managing your properties correctly.

How Much Does Body Corporate Management Service Cost in Australia?

We charge the following fees for our packages.

1. Owner-controlled package: $7 per unit / per month.
2. Administration support package (most popular): $9.50 per unit / per month.
3. Fully managed package: $21 per unit / per month.

Why Choose Our Body Corporate Services in Australia?

At Our Body Corp, we provide leading strata management solutions that will reduce your management fees by up to 70%. We understand the complexities of managing strata requirements and have developed tools and packages that will help you remain in control of your property. Whether you want full control or wish to delegate responsibilities to a professional strata manager, we have packages available that can be tailored to suit your needs and requirements. Our professional strata managers can help you select the right package and guide you to successfully manage your body corporate.

Body Corporate Management Services in Australia

Body Corporate Management, also known as “ Strata Management ”, is the day-to-day operation and management of a property that is jointly owned and comprises multiple units, common areas and common facilities. Strata schemes are governed by State based legislation.

Our Body Corp is a cloud based online strata management tool designed to help owners self-manage their body corporations online and save money! Save up to 70% on your strata management fees and still get the professional support you need.

The concept of the Strata Scheme and Body Corporate began 50 years ago. There are now more than 270,000 such schemes encompassing more than two million individual lots across Australia. In Sydney strata now accounts for more than half of all residential sales and leases because of its popularity with investors.

Body Corporate Management Services Quote

Looking for a body corporate services quote for your Strata Scheme property? Please complete the contact form and we’ll get back to you shortly!

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Body Corporate FAQs

What is a body corporate services?

A body corporate is a group of property owners who own properties which is bound by a strata title or owners corporation scheme. When an individual acquires property bound by this scheme, it will be disclosed in the purchasing documents. There are laws and rules that must be followed by owners who are members of the scheme. The owners can appoint a committee to represent the owners and make decisions on behalf of all owners.

What is a body corporate services fee?

A body corporate fee is an expense incurred by an owner of a property that is subject to an owners’ corporation scheme. Every year, the owners’ corporation committee will budget the body corporate fees to be paid for the following year. These fees are used to pay for day-to-day expenses in managing the body corporate including strata management company fees, building manager fees, insurance premiums, utility expenses, maintenance bills, etc.

Is a body corporate services a legal entity?

Yes. A body corporate is a separate legal entity that is given specific rights and responsibilities under applicable legislation and regulations. It can collect fees on behalf of the owners comprising the body corporate services on trust and pay for day-to-day expenses to manage the body corporate affairs.

Is body corporate services the same as strata?

Over years, the terms ‘body corporate’ and ‘strata’ tend to be used incorrectly and interchangeably. A body corporate is a collection of individual entities who own properties that are subject to a strata title. This means that the owners must observe additional rules because their title to the property is subject to an owners’ corporation scheme. Each property in the scheme is known as a ‘lot’ and each lot has entitlements and obligations in accordance with a prescribed number of ‘units’. The units determine how much each lot owner pays to the body corporate.

Do you pay rates and body corporate?

The payment of body corporate fees to the owners’ corporation is separate to the fees paid to utility service providers and the local council. An individual lot’s utility bills and council rate fees is borne by the owner. However, the utility fees paid by the body corporate for common services is borne by the body corporate.

What is body corporate responsible for?

A body corporate’s responsibilities can include:

1. conducting meetings;
2. collecting fees from owners;
3. arranging property maintenance;
4. advising on asset management;
5. preparation and distribution of notices, agendas and minutes;
6. attending to correspondence;
7. maintaining the strata register;
8. payment of all invoices;
9. preparation and distribution of financial statements and budgets;
10. mediating disputes between residents; and
11. attending to orders, submissions and appeals.

Can you run your own body corporate?

You can run your own body corporate or engage a professional strata management services provider to help you out with continuous help and dedicated support. Most owners who own properties that are part of an owners’ corporation scheme are time poor and have other commitments that take priority. To ensure the owners do not fail to meet their obligations to appropriately and adequately manage the body corporate, a professional service provider can make the process simple and effective.

Is body corporate responsible for pest control?

The body corporate is responsible for maintaining the common property and body corporate matters. This typically includes the requirements to ensure the common property is free from nasty pests that may harm the health and wellbeing of residents. Generally, the body corporate, or its strata manager, will engage a professional pest control company to perform routine pest control treatment at the property.

What is the average body corporate fees?

There is no average body corporate fee that can be used as a yardstick to compare fees published in purchase documents or owners’ corporation certificates. The fees payable depend on many factors that are unique to the particular group of properties. For example, the fees will vary based on the type of properties, the size of the common property, the number and type of common services and amenities, etc.

Does a body corporate need to lodge a tax return?

Yes. For specific advice in relation to a body corporate lodging a tax return, please visit a financial services or taxation professional.

Can body corporate evict tenants?

Typically, no. This depends on the circumstances and the meaning of ‘evict’. While a landlord can evict a tenant in certain circumstances, a body corporate can only make a recommendation to evict a tenant to its respective landlord. Since there is no legal relationship between a tenant and a body corporate, because the contract is between the landlord and the tenant, a body corporate has no direct power to evict a tenant.

Do body corporate fees include insurance?

Contents insurance premiums are paid separately by owners and building insurance premiums are paid by the owners’ corporation. It is important to check what the inclusions and exclusions are to ensure the policy is appropriate.

Do tenants pay body corporate fees?

Body corporate fees are paid by lot owners to the owners’ corporation to manage the upkeep of the common property and other body corporate matters. The owners’ corporation collect fees from the owners who own the lots. The owners who own the properties as an investment will ultimately collect funds to pay the fees from their tenants’ rent. However, the tenants do not pay body corporate fees.

Do townhouses have body corporate fees?

Whether the group of properties are called villas, or another term, is not relevant. What matters is whether the group of properties are bound by a strata title (or owners’ corporation scheme) which legally requires the owners of the properties (collectively, the body corporate) to appropriately manage the common property and body corporate matters in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. Each State and Territory in Australia has laws which must be followed. If the owners of the group of properties are unable to meet the requirements, there are penalties.

Can I claim body corporate fees on tax?

Body corporate fees paid by owners are only tax deductible if the owner pays income tax and the property incurring the body corporate fee expense is earning rent. This means the owner must be an investor who has acquired the property to derive a rental return. The income producing asset, i.e. the property, incurs a periodic body corporate fee expense which can be attributed as a general deduction when the owner of the property prepares his or her tax return.

How much should body corporate fees be?

As described above, there is no average body corporate fee. The fees vary depending on the type of properties to be managed, the size and scale of the common property and other body corporate related matters. If the body corporate pays more expenses because more amenities and services are provided, the fees will typically be higher. The fees payable by a lot owner in a high-rise building compared to the fees payable by the owner of a townhouse will differ.

What is covered by body corporate?

The body corporate is responsible for managing the common property and all matters affecting the body corporate. Some of the responsibilities of a body corporate are listed above. The body corporate will collect fees from owners to manage the common property, pay strata insurance premiums, maintain the property, respond to requests from owners and perform other important tasks.

Do you pay body corporate and rates?

Is there GST on body corporate fees?

No. Body corporate fees levied by the owners’ corporation do not attract GST.

Does a body corporate need an ABN?

Typically, yes. For further information, please visit the website of the ATO.