Legislative amendments to improve community living

Important changes to body corporate legislation set to begin on 1 July will introduce a range of new guidelines, services and protections to enhance community living, Minister for Fair Trading, Margaret Keech said today.

“With over 34,000 community titles schemes and 318,000 lots around the State, we’ve taken the first step to strengthen our existing Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 to suit today’s community living environment,” she said.

“In a move that will be welcomed by unit owners around the State, our amendments will improve protection and introduce a new code of conduct for body corporate committees, while the existing code of conduct for body corporate managers has been revised.”

“Importantly, unit owners will now also have access to enhanced dispute resolution services and conciliation provided by the Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management.”

Mrs Keech said the changes will encourage people with disputes to attempt to resolve issues informally with their bodies corporate before seeking assistance from the Commissioner’s Office.

The amendments will also establish a conciliation service within the Commissioner’s Office to assist parties to resolve disputes under body corporate legislation.

“Conciliation involves both parties meeting face-to-face and can often resolve disputes quickly and in a way which can prevent future disputes by educating parties on the law and assisting them to develop or maintain good relations,” Mrs Keech said.

“In most cases, parties will be required as a first step to apply for conciliation of their dispute with the Commissioner’s Office before applying for adjudication.”

“Community living is about maintaining good relationships, and these new conciliation options provide body corporate members with the tools to resolve disputes in a constructive manner.”

Additionally, the Commercial and Consumer Tribunal will be able to hear appeals of orders from adjudicators within the Commissioner’s Office, as well as certain complex disputes involving matters such as contractual disputes.

For more information, contact the Commissioner’s Office on Freecall 1800 060 119 or visit the website: www.bccm.qld.gov.au

Media contacts:

Minister’s Office: Joanna Whitaker 3224 2005