Welcome to your Victoria owners corporation living toolkit
As the cultural, sporting and foodie heart of Australia, Victoria often doesn’t disappoint. With a vibrant café culture and upbeat economy, this state is a perfect mix of parks and gardens with vast spaces to explore, making it a popular option for families and young professionals alike. As a lifestyle choice, many are choosing apartment living for easier access and convenience to transport routes, shopping malls, schools, and health care facilities.
With so much to know about apartment living and owners corporation management, this guide aims to help you make sense of owners corporation legislation is an easy and digestible way so that together we can enhance community living.
What is an owners corporation, and what do they do?
An owners corporation is the entity, created by law when subdivided land is registered as having common property i.e. strata title property. Their function is to carry out tasks required under relevant laws including the maintenance of common property.
Selecting an owners corporation manager
The role of an owners corporation manager or provider is to assist in the day-to-day operations of an owners corporation. Here’s a guide on selecting an owners corporation manager that will benefit your owners corporation property.
The ins and outs of owners corporation rules to manage your property
The rules of an owners corporation exist to help regulate the rights of residents in owners corporation properties. These are called by-laws in most other states and rules in Victoria.
Books and records your owners corporation must keep
An owners corporation is required by law to keep numerous records relating to the property. Strict record keeping obligations ensure that no vital information pivotal to safety or an owner’s rights are lost.
Financial responsibilities for an owners corporation
An owners corporation has a legal responsibility to administer the finances and common funds of the group of owners. Even if you are not a member of the committee, as a lot owner, you should be aware of the financial status of your owners corporation at all times.
Owners corporation insurance: what is and isn’t covered?
One of the many functions of an owners corporation is taking out and paying premiums on insurance for common property. In Victoria, owners corporations are required to insure all buildings on the common property.
Owners corporation fees explained
In an owners corporation property, you have shared ownership with all other owners of common property areas, amenities, and assets. As owners, you are collectively responsible to ensure it is maintained and the running costs such as cleaners and utilities are covered.
Maintaining and improving common property in an owners corporation
Members of an owners corporation collectively own the common property with the other lot owners as “tenants-in-common”. As the collective owners of common property i.e. the owners corporation, there are duties to manage, administer, repair and maintain common property.
Do’s and don’ts for renovating in an owners corporation property
One of the benefits of Community Living is sharing the cost of common property maintenance and repairs. However, just as the owners corporation has a duty to keep common property under good repair, a lot owner has an obligation to keep their lot under good repair.
Victoria owners corporation legislation made easy guide
Access our FREE Victoria owners corporation legislation made easy guide, covering topics on:
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- What is an owners corporation, and what do they do?
- Selecting an owners corporation manager
- Owners corporation rules to manage your property
- Owners corporation fees explained
- Maintaining and improving common property in an owners corporation and more.