One of the hardest areas of body corporate life to navigate is maintenance and repairs. Who is responsible — a single unit owner, a group of unit owners, or the entire body corporate? In many cases, the best practical approach is simply to continue resolving issues in the way the body corporate has previously agreed and consistently applied.
Under Section 138 of the Unit Titles Act 2010, the body corporate is required to repair and maintain:
the common property
driveways, pathways, fences, walls, roofs and patios
assets owned by the body corporate
building elements and infrastructure that relate to or serve more than one unit
This creates a clear starting point, but real-world situations are often more nuanced (especially with decks, windows, plumbing that serves multiple units, or areas that sit on the boundary between private and common property). Clear rules, good records, and consistent decision-making help avoid disputes.
Does your body corporate have an adequate maintenance and repair schedule, together with competent, reliable contractors? A proactive plan reduces emergency call-outs, spreads costs more evenly, and protects the long-term value of the complex.
Your body corporate manager should maintain relationships with several trusted contractors across the main trades (plumbing, roofing, electrical, building, etc.). Having pre-vetted options ready makes it faster and less stressful to get work done when something goes wrong.