Archers Body Corporate Management

IT’S CHRISTMAS TIME…

2008-12-02T14:41:00.004+10:00

To help celebrate the festive season, Archers Body Corporate Management would like to offer you, our valued client a Christmas surprise….

Archers Body Corporate Management combined with Fisher & Paykel are offering an EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNTED shopping deal on Fisher & Paykel products, only available though our website to Archers clients.

As this is an exclusive deal to Archers Body Corporate Management, Fisher & Paykel are not able to publish a public price list. With a simple click you will be on the way to obtaining your quote. Compare your personal Fisher & Paykel price with other competitors, sit back and enjoy the great savings this Christmas.

Come on, give it ago, you won’t be disappointed!

A representative will contact you with in 24 hours of making a quote request.
A representative will install your brand new Fisher & Paykel product and remove all packaging from site. Also for a small fee, you can have your old product removed.
Delivery to metropolitan areas will take 1 to 2 days.
Gold Coast and rural areas will take 2 to 4 days.
Cairns will take 5 to 7 days.
Fisher & Paykel are offering a special 2 to 5 year warranty on all appliances. All white goods are covered by a 5 year rust warranty.
Customer service is available 7 days a week, guaranteed.

Interested…?

To find out more, and take advantage of this special deal, select the MyABCM tab on the top right hand corner of the screen and then follow the step by step instructions (featured below) to be on your way to receive your brand new Fisher & Paykel product. It’s that simple!

To begin searching: Select – click here to start.
You are now free to scroll through the Fisher and Paykel product catalogue.
To request a product quote – click request a quote - and a representative will be in contact with you in less then 24 hours.

To purchase your new Fisher & Paykel product follow these four simple steps:

Step 1: Enter in the access code - myabcm001 and then click next.

Step 2: Enter in the product model number, colour and any necessary notes and click next.

Step 3: Enter in your details including name, email, body corporate name, contact phone number and delivery address and click next.

Step 4: Congratulations! You have submitted your product request; a Fisher & Paykel representative will be in contact with you shortly.

See, it’s that simple!

Who’s Who at Archers

2008-11-03T09:30:00.006+10:00

Colin Archer is the Managing Director of Archers Body Corporate Management, he is based in Brisbane and spends his time between our five offices in Queensland. Colin, a chartered accountant is a founding member of Community Titles Institute Queensland (CTIQ), founding president and current Queensland representative for the National Community Titles Institute (NCTI).

Sharon Withford our Technical Director and Shareholder in Archers resides at the Sunshine Coast. Sharon also spends her time between the Maroochydore office and our Whitsundays office. As the office manager for the Maroochydore office and as a body corporate manager she is still active in managing a portfolio.

We have always paid particular attention to financial assurance and our association with Archer Gowland Chartered Accountants continues. Colin oversees and approves the financial reports and income tax returns for our extensive portfolio along with being an active signatory on all the accounts.

We have appointed Aaron Margaritis as financial controller to administer and implement our ‘best practice’ strategies and internal processes. Aaron is from the Gold Coast office and with the support of Kelly James will provide training and support to our other offices.

Our office managers are:

Kim Cullen – Gold Coast. Kim has 10 years experience in the Body Corporate Management Industry as a Body Corporate Manager before moving her career to become the office manager with Archers in the Gold Coast office.
Kim is contactable on 5597 2077.
Jenny Phillips – Brisbane Office. Jenny has over 6 years experience as a body corporate manager and manages an extensive and varied portfolio. Jenny joined Archers in 2002 and has since progressed to a more senior role as the Brisbane Office Manager. Jenny has a certificate IV in Body Corporate Management and is a member of the CTIQ.
Jenny is contactable on 07 3002 2600.
John Downes – Whitsundays. John has over 10 years experience in the Body Corporate Management Industry commencing his career with 6 years as a resident manager. John joined Archers in 2004 and has a certificate IV in Body Corporate Management.
John is contactable on 4946 4508.
Stephen McCulloch – Cairns. Stephen has over 3 years in body corporate management and has a Bachelor of Law and practiced as a solicitor for a number years.
Stephen is contactable on 4031 6633.
Sharon Withford – Maroochydore. Sharon is a fellow member of the CTIQ and holds a Certificate IV in Body Corporate Management. Sharon has lived on the Sunshine Coast for 25 years and has been a senior body corporate manager with Archers since 1992.
Sharon is contactable on 5443 2562.

ARCHERS SPONSORED THE TOURISM WHITSUNDAYS AWARDS 2008

2008-10-27T10:20:00.006+10:00

Archers were proud to be a sponsor of the recent Whitsunday Tourism Awards held on the 11th October, 2008. Tourism Whitsundays, considers the awards night to be paramount and is seen as the industry night of nights. The evening showcases the regions best operators, businesses and individuals that strive for excellence in greater tourism products and services.

Archers Area Manager John Downes presented the awards for ‘best deluxe accommodation’ – won by Coral Sea Resort and ‘Best new tourism development’ - won by Qualia.

The highly sought after tourism awards are a major highlight on the Whitsunday social calendar,” stated John Downes and also present were the Local State member; Jan Jarratt, Whitsunday Regional Council Mayor Mike Brunker and General Manager Mackay Tourism; David Phillips.

Information regarding this event can be found here.

THERE'S A NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN - BCCM ACT NEW REGULATIONS

2008-09-05T10:48:00.007+10:00

The new regulation modules under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 commenced on the 1st September 2008. This occurred as the old regulation modules expired and necessitated the need to review the requirements. It is very important that body corporate lot owners and committee members understand the implications of the changes.

The major changes for the accommodation and standard module include:

eligibility for committee membership,
reserved (restricted) issues for the committee,
relevant spending limits for committee spending and major spending,
improvements to common property by the body corporate and by owners; and
the requirements to have an insurance valuation report.

There are many comparisons to make between the expired modules and the new modules and sufficient time needs to be devoted by committees to understand how the changes apply to their scheme. There is a proviso for bodies corporate who have called an Annual General Meeting prior to the 30th August 2008 to follow the expired procedures for committee nominations etc. regardless of the meeting being held after the 1st September 2008.

Part of the new regulations is the new spending limits for committee spending and major spending. It would be fair to assume that the reason or motivation for changing these amounts is due to the ever-increasing cost of supply, particularly building construction costs and building maintenance costs and with other requirements coming under legislation to be ‘green efficient’. Thus the changes will allow for bodies corporate to be more efficient in authorising work orders.

Major Spending
The new default amount under the new regulations for major spending is worked out by multiplying $1,100.00 excluding GST by the number of lots in the scheme but is capped at $10,000.00. To calculate the number of lots in layered bodies corporate, it is the total number of lots in the subsidiary schemes. The new regulations also allow for this limit to be increased by ordinary resolution of the body corporate to an unstipulated amount. If this resolution is passed this limit will remain until another ordinary resolution is passed by the body corporate to have the limit changed.

Committee Spending
The new default amount under the new regulations for committee spending is worked out at $200.00 exclusive of GST multiplied by the number of lots in the scheme, with the same methodology of number of lots for layered bodies corporate. Again this limit can be increased unconditionally by ordinary resolution. If however this limit is greater than the relevant limit for major spending it provides that the committee is required to obtain two quotations prior to resolving the motion. Evidence of these quotes are to accompany the minutes of the committee meeting.

Insurance Valuations
If the body corporate is required to insure one or more buildings in the scheme for full replacement value then it must, at least every five years, obtain an independent valuation report. The value from this report and the date it was obtained is required to be attached with the Annual General Meeting notice. Such a valuation must be obtained under the new provisions by the 30th August 2009 unless it has already one purchased between 31st August 2004 and 1st September 2008. If it has been purchased in this period than the 5 year applicable timeframe commences from the date of the report.

Archers are able to help bodies corporate meet their obligations through:

Expert advice and administration
In-house Services Division;
Quantity Surveyor – Insurance Valuations & Sinking Fund Forecasts
WPH&S Officer – Workplace Health & Safety Audits

Factsheets detailing new regulations

Accommodation Module Regulations 2008

Commercial Module Regulations 2008

Small Schemes Module Regulations 2008

Standard Module Regulations 2008

HOT TOPIC - BUILDING FIRE REGULATIONS 2008

2008-09-05T08:56:00.002+10:00

The Department of Emergency Services (DES) has completed a review of the Building Fire Safety Regulation 1991. The amended legislation has been passed to cover fire evacuation procedures and planning for all buildings except fully detached residential buildings. The legislation came into effect on 1 July 2008 and the owners of these types of buildings must be compliant by 1 July 2009.
The legislation provides a definition of who exactly is responsible for the implementation and is as follows; the owner of the building; and the occupier of the building and the Managing Entity. The Managing Entity of a multi-occupancy building means the entity that is the occupier of or in control of the general access areas of the building. An example of entities that may be the managing entity is; the body corporate of a community titles scheme.

Where the body corporate has engaged a caretaker/resident manager this would be the obvious choice under the legislation’s definition as the person who has general access to common property, but it is still the responsibility of the body corporate and therefore the committee to ensure that action is being taken. There is a long list of requirements and the main objectives are; to ensure people can evacuate buildings safely and quickly in the event of a fire or should a hazardous materials emergency occur and; to ensure that prescribed safety installations for these types of buildings are in place and maintained.
The complete list of requirements is available at; http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/buildingsafety/legislation.asp
The specific requirements are lengthy and many remain the same, however some are quite challenging and are as follows:

Evacuation procedures training must be given to each person annually
Evacuation practice must be conducted at least annually (organised by owner, occupier or managing agent)
Must have a Fire Safety Advisor if it is a high occupancy building (residential building > 25m high; with > 29 workers; special buildings like budget accommodation)
A deadlock can be fitted to residential unit fire doors, provided; it allows the door to self close (not a dead bolt). The lock is installed, fire rated and complies with Australian Standard AS1905
Security screen doors in front of a fire door are not acceptable

Archers Body Corporate Management is undertaking training to have a comprehensive understanding and will nominate a specific professional to advise Bodies Corporate.
Committees should table this item for discussion at early in 2009 to ensure compliance before 1 July 2009. Committees also need to consider whether their by-laws have any conflicting provisions and rulings to the new regulations. For example;
‘An owner or occupier of a lot shall not mark, paint, drive nails or screws or the like into, or otherwise damage or deface, any structure that forms part of the common property except with the consent in writing of the Body Corporate, but this by-law does not prevent an owner or person authorised by them from installing:

(1) any locking or other safety device for protection of his lot against intruders; or

(2) any screen or other device to prevent entry of animals or insets upon his lots; provided that the locking or other safety device, or as the case may be, screen or other device, is constructed in a workmanlike manner, is maintained in a state of good and serviceable repair by the owner and does not detract from the amenity of the building.

Statutory laws override any by-laws in community title schemes but in the case that your by-laws contain such a by-law you may need to consider engaging a solicitor to review the by-laws and lodge a new Community Management Statement (CMS) with the department. This would be prudent to avoid any confusion and/or disputes.
For more information on the Building Fire Regulations you can visit http://www.fire.qld.gov.au/ website or call them on (07) 3247 8100.

UOAQ Continuing Education Seminars - Highly Topical

2008-09-05T08:00:00.005+10:00

Once again, the latest series of UOAQ Continuing Education Seminars were very well received. Archers had large mumbers in attendance as the interest in the topics proved to be high. The panel presenting was diverse with Colin Archer, Chairman of Archers Body Corporate Management, Garry Maynard President of the Unit Owners Association of Queensland, Andrew Suttie of Nicholsons Solicitors and Don Pitt of QBM.

The information presented to a range of Committee Members, Resident Managers and interested Owners was very topical and stirred mixed reactions from the attendees. Fortunately our expert speakers were able to shed some light and advice to Bodies Corporate dealing with the (now) new Body Corporate Community Management Regulations and it's implications. Also presented was the new Building Fire Regulations which was passed on 1 July 2008 which was daunting information, to all affected in properties that are not fully detached residential buildings.

The feedback received was very positive and comments received were; 'Excellent Presentation - Very Informative', 'Most Enlightening!' and 'A very good overview of the new legislation!'

FREE EDUCATION SEMINARS WILL BENEFIT BODY CORPORATE OWNERS AND COMMITTEES

2008-07-15T17:49:00.000+10:00

Archers Body Corporate Management is joining forces with the Unit Owners Association of Queensland to present a series of free seminars to focus on the Proposed Amendments to the Body Corporate and Community Management Act (BCCM Act) Regulations.
This opportunity is available to anyone interested in understanding or learning more about the ruling legislation and its applications to managing strata titled properties.

“Most Bodies Corporate are valued between $10 and $100 million with budgets of up to $1 million dollars in administrative and sinking funds, however many Committee Members have limited knowledge of the BCCM Act or the financial expertise to help them manage these assets,” Colin Archer, Chairman of Archers Body Corporate Management said.

Key speakers at these seminars include Andrew Suttie of Nicholsons Solicitors, a regular industry spokesperson who will be speaking about the proposed amendments to the BCCM Act regulations that will take effect from September 2008. Other key speakers are Garry Maynard, President of the Unit Owners Association of Queensland and QBM’s, Don Pitt.

The seminars are open to everyone and will be of particular interest to anyone buying into strata titled property, including Body Corporate Lot Owners, Committee Members and Caretaking Managers.

“Archers Body Corporate Management is at the forefront of professional body corporate and community management, with a continuing reputation for the highest professional standards,” Mr Archer said.

With six locations throughout Queensland, Archers is sponsoring these continuing education seminars for unit owners at the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and the Whitsundays.

The first of the series will be held in Cairns on 29 July from 5:00-7:00pm and the final seminar will be held in the Whitsundays on 4 September from 5:00-6:30pm.

For full details and to reserve your seat at any of the seminars, go to www.abcm.com.au/seminars.php

Catering will be provided at each event and registration is essential to ensure your attendance.

Don't Get Yourself in Hot Water with Electricity - from 2010

2008-07-03T14:56:00.002+10:00

The Queensland Premier announced on June 3, 2008 Queensland’s Climate Change Strategy – ClimateSmart 2050. This proposal includes phasing out existing electric hot water systems in QLD from 2010. This will obviously impact on individual home owners but more significantly Bodies Corporate with common hot water systems and with 2010 not being all that far away it needs some thought and planning today.

The phase out does not include the removal of existing hot water systems from 2010, but the requirement to replace with a greenhouse-friendly system in the case of the hot water system breaking down and necessitating a replacement and this will be implemented in stages. Firstly, properties within the reticulated gas network area must install a greenhouse-efficient hot water system. Secondly those properties not within the network switching to greenhouse-efficient systems will be voluntary initially.

Climate change has been a hot topic and a buzz word for some time but it is now becoming a reality with legislation backing ‘green alternatives’. Committees need to table this item for discussion now and, if the scheme has electric hot water systems owned by the body corporate, consult with their sinking forecast as to when the common property electric hot water system is due for replacement. The greenhouse friendly alternatives to electric include; solar, gas or heat pumps. Information regarding these technologies are readily available and rebates are available now, refer to www.dme.qld.gov.au/gasrebate for gas hot water systems and for solar and heat pump hot water systems; www.orer.gov.au

Don’t think you’re off the hook if your body corporate doesn’t have electric hot water systems on common property. Your body corporate’s by-laws will need to be reviewed to allow for any alterations individual owners may need to make to allow them to install compliant hot water systems within their lot, including changes to external appearance of the lot and safe storage of gas. As we always recommend, be proactive, spend the time now in understanding and planning for the inevitable and hopefully avoid time and money in the future.

For more information about the phase out of electric hot water systems call the Department of Local Government, Planning, Sport and Recreation on 07 3237 1114.

Lifts and H2O a Costly Combination

2008-06-30T10:37:00.006+10:00

Archers have recently seen a number of expensive work orders and quotes in the thousands going through our accounts department. The numerous invoices are generated due to heavy rain and sump pumps in the bottom of lifts failing to control this hazard. Archers asked MINC Services to explain the issue and provide their professional advice to avoid this disaster and huge costs incurring.

Resident Managers and committees should be aware of the importance of ensuing that plant in their buildings is properly maintained.

“My building had water enter the lift well because the sump pump located at the bottom of the lift shaft failed. The work required to rectify the lift equipment after this was very costly i.e. several thousand dollars”

Stories like this are heard quite often.

This may be caused by equipment failure, loss of supply etc., however, a common reason is contractors failing to maintain the equipment. Lifts are an expensive investment and depending on the model, each lift can cost anywhere from $60,000 and $400,000+, so it is paramount that any associated equipment is properly maintained and functioning correctly.Typically, a lift pit can have the following items installed:Lift electrical mains, lifting rails, electrical lights and switches, sump pump, idle sheaves, hydraulic or spring buffers, compensators and lockdown, compensator steel cables, bearings, etc.

There are obvious consequences if some of these items are exposed to water.
There are other items such as multi-stranded steel cables, that have a hemp core and if this absorbs water it can result in the formation of ferric oxide - this is often referred to in the industry as “rouging”. If this occurs it will compromise the load bearing rating on the steel cables.

There have been instances where the lift has travelled to the top floor and the counterweight has plunged into the flooded pit - or worse, where the lift has travelled down to the basement and was itself immersed in the water.Co-ordinating access to service and maintain the lift and ancillary equipment can be a complicated issue, as the pit equipment is installed and serviced by multiple contactors - the Lift Contractor, the Plumber, and the Electrical Contractor.
This process can be simplified however - as there are organisations which ensure your entire building is maintained to program.

These Facility Maintenance organisations have systems in place to track all plant and equipment, and ensure that it is checked, tested and maintained at the frequencies required by legislation or the manufacturers. This can potentially save you thousands of dollars.

Engaging a Facility Maintenance company to oversee all your maintenance issues is a prudent step to minimise problems, and choosing one with experience in Lifts and Escalators provides an added benefit, as some lift companies will attempt to maximise the repairs.

Joseph Olejnik
MINC Facility Services

BY-LAWS TO THE RESCUE – OR NOT?

2008-06-14T14:08:00.000+10:00

The importance of ensuring your by-laws are comprehensive and reflect the individual requirements of each building cannot be stressed enough. You only need to scan through the Orders made by the Adjudicator through the Queensland Body Corporate and Community Management Commissioner to see that a high percentage of the Orders relate to by-law contraventions.

Parking, pets, management of common facilities, appearance, security, exclusive use and management of utility services are just a few of the day to day issues which can escalate in to major disputes if the by-laws do not adequately address the matter.
Most by-laws are drafted by a Solicitor who has been supplied with brief plans of the development at planning stage and are a standard set of by-laws with a few variations according to the plans for the development. What seems appropriate at the time of planning may not be adequate once the occupants move in and try to live within the boundaries of the by-laws. Changing your by-laws involves resolutions at General Meetings, the types of resolutions required depends on the changes you wish to make. Ensure that your by-laws reflect the desired outcomes, that they are worded correctly and that they will protect the interests of the Body Corporate should a dispute arise.
Spend a little extra time now and hopefully avoid time consuming and costly disputes in the future.

BCCM Office - Seminar Series

2008-05-28T09:52:00.003+10:00

The Office of the Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management (the BCCM office) is holding a series of seminars on Guidelines for New Owners and the Role of Body Corporate Committees in June and July this year. The BCCM office seminar series will be held in locations from South East Queensland to North Queensland. In early 2008 the BCCM Office conducted a survey to determine the kinds of topics/issues that would be of interest in the immediate future and to develop a structured program for the future.

We are encouraging owners to attend these seminars who want to get information on these two topics and will be holding our own seminar series later in the year.

We will keep you posted.

Amendments to the BCCM Regulations

2008-05-21T13:54:00.005+10:00

The Regulatory Impact Statement for the proposed changes to Regulations for the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 is presently being circulated to Stakeholders. These regulations expire in September 2008 and we anticipate the new Regulations being gazetted in the next 90 days.

I attach a summary of the major proposed alterations to the existing modules.

1. Eligibility for Committee Membership

To prevent owners who are not fulfilling their financial obligations to the scheme from having a say in the running of the scheme, section 11 provides that a person who is not an owner but is otherwise eligible to be a voting member of the committee is not eligible to be a voting member of the committee if the body corporate member who nominated the person owes a body corporate debt when the members of the committee are chosen. This will correct an anomaly under the current provisions in that an owner may nominate a person for committee membership as long as they do not owe a debt when the nomination is received by the secretary, and this non-owner may be elected even if the nominating owner subsequently owes a body corporate debt at the time of the election.

Amendment
A lot owner who owns more than one lot is entitled to nominate one individual for committee membership for each lot they own, up to a maximum of three nominations.

2. Issues Reserved for Decision by Ordinary Resolution of the Body Corporate

Under existing provisions, the committee cannot make a decision of an issue which the body corporate has previously reserved, by ordinary resolution, for decision by ordinary resolution of the body corporate.

The amendment will introduce a requirement that the body corporate must reconsider at each annual general meeting any issues the body corporate has previously reserved for decision by ordinary resolution of the body corporate. If the body corporate does not reaffirm the issue at the meeting as an issue reserved for decision by ordinary resolution of the body corporate, the issue will no longer be a restricted issue for the committee.

3. Able to Vote Outside Committee Meetings

Amendment
Provide a resolution passed by the committee outside a meeting is valid if:

(a) Notice of the motion is given to all committee members, including non-voting members, and;

(b) Within seven days, or a longer period in the notice for the return of votes, a majority of votes received from members of the committee who are entitled to vote on the motion agree to the motion, and;

(c) The number of votes received from members entitled to vote on a motion is equivalent to a quorum for a committee meeting.

4. Who May Call General Meetings

Section 38 provides that a general meeting may be called by a committee member authorised by the committee to call the meeting. The intention of this section, namely that a general meeting will only be called by the secretary or another committee member when the committee has passed a resolution directing the member to call the particular meeting, could be further clarified.

It is intended that the person directed to call the meeting will retain the flexibility to deal with issues such as the venue and time of the meeting as these matters may require some flexibility.

Amendment
Clarify that the secretary or other member of the committee (including a non-voting member) may call a general meeting upon the committee passing a resolution directing the member to call the meeting.

5. Management Rights Transfer Fees - Now Compulsory Barring Genuine Hardship

Amendment
(a) Provide that the body corporate must require payment of the transfer fee as a condition of approving the transfer if the date on which the body corporate approves the transfer is within two years of the date on which the original engagement or authorisation was entered in to by the transferor. However, the body corporate must not require the payment of the transfer fee if the transferor is seeking approval to the transfer on the basis of genuine hardship not reasonably foreseen by the transferor at the date on when they entered into or were assigned the engagement or authorization.

(b) The transfer fee to be applied will be three percent if the transfer is approved in the first year after the contract date and two percent if the transfer is approved in the second year after the contract date.

6. Spending Limit

- Increased to $200/Lot
- Principal Schemes calculations will include all lots in subsidiaries Scheme

Amendment
The Amendment will provide that:

(a) The relevant limit for committee spending is an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots included in the scheme by $200, unless the body corporate sets another amount by ordinary resolution at a general meeting.

(b) A limit set by ordinary resolution will have effect until the next annual general meeting held or the limit is otherwise amended by ordinary resolution.

(c) When determining the spending limit for a principal scheme in a layered arrangement of schemes, where a lot in the principal scheme forms a subsidiary community titles scheme, that lot is taken to be the same number of lots that is included in the subsidiary scheme.

(d) The committee obtain two quotations for spending that is above the relevant limit for major spending before the committee approves the expenditure.

(e) The relevant limit for committee spending prescribed in the legislation excludes GST.

7. Major Spending Limit Requiring Two Quotation Increased to $1100

If a motion to be moved at a general meeting of the body corporate involves a proposal that will cost more than the ‘relevant limit for major spending’, lot owners must be given copies of at least two quotations for the proposal with the notice for the meeting at which the motion is to be considered. If for exceptional reasons, it is not practicable to obtain two quotations, a single quotation must be obtained and must accompany the notice of meeting. The relevant limit for major spending is an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots in the scheme by $250.

Some stakeholders have suggested that this requirement places an excessive burden on bodies corporate and that the current limit is too low.

Amendment
(a) Provide that the relevant limit for major spending is an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots in the scheme by $1100.

(b) Provide that, for the purposes of determining the relevant limit for major spending for a principal scheme in a layered arrangement of schemes, where a lot in the principal scheme forms a subsidiary community titles scheme, the lot is taken to be the same number of lots that is included in the subsidiary scheme.

8. Spending Limit for Improvements to Common Property – Increased

The regulation module prescribes body corporate responsibilities for the maintenance of common property, but also provides for the body corporate to make improvements to the common property. In an aging scheme, an improvement is often necessary to maintain a scheme’s amenity which influences the value of the scheme and, depending on the scheme, its tourism potential. Many schemes are now 25 or 30 years old.

Currently, a body corporate can generally only make a significant improvement (an improvement with a cost over an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots included in the scheme by $300) to common property if the body corporate passes a special resolution. It may be appropriate to facilitate improvements to schemes by reducing the approval.

Amendment
Provide that the body corporate may make improvements to the common property if authorized by an ordinary resolution of the body corporate and the value of the improvements is between an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots included in the scheme by $300 and an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots included in the scheme by $3000. Provide that improvements valued over an amount worked out by multiplying the number of lots included in the scheme by $3000 may only be made by special resolution.

9. Valuations to be Obtained for the Purposes of Insurance

Determining the replacement value of a property is a complex process, involving a variety of factors including the cost of building materials and labour. It may be appropriate to require a body corporate to obtain a regular valuation of the property they are required to insure under the regulation to reduce the risk of underinsurance for community titles schemes.

Amendment
(a) The body corporate, at least every five years, to obtain from a quantity surveyor or registered valuer an independent valuation stating the replacement value of all property it is liable to insure.

(b) Provide that the notice of the annual general meeting, or a note attached to the administrative fund budget proposed for adoption at the annual general meeting, must include the amount of the latest valuation of all property required to be insured by the body corporate and the date of the valuation.

Additionally, the Commercial Module is being altered to be consistent with other modules.

A new ‘two lot’ module will be introduced to further ‘simplify’ management of those schemes.

Archers Launches MyABCM for their Owners

2008-05-20T09:00:00.004+10:00

We are continually sourcing feedback from our owners to identify ways to service their needs more effectively'" said Colin Archer, Chairman of Archers Body Corporate Management.
As part of our commitment to; ‘Set the benchmark in addressing the increasing complexities and demands of professional Body Corporate Management and Community Association Management’, we need to move with technology and offer innovative ways in which our members can communicate with us.

Archers is proud to announce our new MyABCM feature available on our website; http://www.abcm.com.au/. MyABCM has been created for our bodies corporate to use our website as a time saving alternative to facilitate day to day requests.

Change your address or update your contact details and communication options Request a Disclosure Statement Request an Information Certificate Start the Insurance claim process, where Archers are the appointed agent We are also proud to offer the option to pay via PayPal when purchasing a Disclosure Statement or Information Certificate; this gives our members an option to pay with a Credit Card via PayPal’s secure site. Or as a registered user of PayPal you can pay from your registered bank accounts.

SmartStrata.com Promotion

2008-05-19T10:17:00.000+10:00

We had our winner draw from our SmartStrata.com promotion, our winner was very happy to receive a gourmet hamper.