QLD: committee powers to approve work

pukoh wrote:

Is our strata agents just lying to us so they can collect the $900 for every extra general meeting we hold? Or is the QLD strata laws just that rediculous.

Have a look here at this Qld government web page;  the standard limit on works not requiring general meeting approval is $200 per unit.

The relevant limit for committee spending (i.e. how much money a committee can spend) can be set by ordinary resolution of the body corporate (i.e. a motion voted on by the owners at a general meeting). There is no minimum or maximum limit that the body corporate can set.

If no amount is set by a general meeting resolution the relevant limit is calculated by multiplying the number of lots in the scheme by $200.

So, to save that $900 every time you want to approve repairs, just set a reasonably high limit at your next AGM. The $900 fee for running an AGM for 15  units seems a bit on the high side IMHO.  Do you really need them to be involved at all?

Yeah, it seems like the information you have been given is partly correct but doesn’t apply to lot property

According to this Qld government fact sheet, owners are not restricted in the value of improvements to lot property.

Alterations to a lot

The BCCM Act does not restrict the changes or improvements an owner can make to their own lot.

If an owner wants to change their lot they should consider whether the change will affect common property.

See body corporate maintenance for more information on lot boundaries.

The lot owner should also see whether there are any by-laws that affect what change or improvements they can make.

However, it’s true that you can’t make improvements to common property worth over $3000 without general meeting approval.

Improvements by a lot owner

An owner can make an improvement to common property if approved by the committee or the body corporate at a general meeting.

The committee can approve an improvement by an owner if the:

• total cost is less than $3,000
• improvement does not detract from the appearance of a lot
• body corporate is satisfied that the use and enjoyment of the improvement is not likely to be a breach of the owner’s duties as an occupier (e.g. by causing a nuisance to others in the scheme).

If the committee cannot approve the work it must be authorised by ordinary resolution at a general meeting.

The owner must:

• comply with any conditions of approval

and

• maintain the improvement.

When an improvement is made to the common property by a lot owner they must give the body corporate details of the type of work and value of the improvement.

If the improvement increases the body corporate’s insurance premium, the owner may have to pay the extra.