The Knight Alliance

In 2021, The Knight launched our webinar training series, designed to equip Committee Members with the knowledge and skills needed to perform their duties and support functional, harmonious communities. The third session was held on 16 May 2022 titled ‘Governance: how to run an effective Owners Corporation ’ and covered: Running Effective Meetings Effective committee decision making What can the committee decide Proxies Committee spending limits and delegations Establishment of subcommittees Effective communication between members, the manager and the building manager. Watch webinar #3: How to run an effective Owners Corporation . If you wish to tailor any of these sample items to your Owners Corporation or Committee, be sure to discuss it with your Owners Corporation Manager .

In this article we explain the different types of Owners Corporation resolutions and which type of resolution is required for common Owners Corporation decisions. What is a resolution? A resolution is a legally binding written and recorded decision made by an owners corporation either at a meeting or by ballot. Ordinary resolutions Most resolutions made in owners corporations are ordinary resolutions. They are passed by a majority of votes either at a meeting or via a ballot. The committee of management is delegated the power to make ordinary resolutions on behalf of the owners corporation. For example, an ordinary resolution is used to confirm the accuracy of minutes, elect a committee, approving financials and more. Unanimous resolutions A unanimous resolution is passed by all lots voting in favour of a resolution. It is required for the following: Changing the plan of subdivision (including changes to lot liability and/or entitlement). Disposing o...

From December 1 2021, updates to the Model Rules for an Owners Corporation have come into effect. Changes include rules about smoke penetration, the use of common property, external appearance of lots and more. It is important for all those who own and live in an Owners Corporation to be aware of the changes. Read on for a handy summary of all the new and amended Model Rules. Alternatively, you can download the updated Model Rules for an Owners Corporation here . Smoke penetration. A lot owner or occupier in a multi-level development must ensure that smoke caused by the smoking of tobacco or any other substance by the owner or occupier, or any invitee of the owner or occupier, on the lot does not penetrate to the common property or any other lot. Fire safety information: A lot owner must ensure that any occupier of the lot owner’s lot is provided with a copy of fire safety advice and any emergency preparedness plan that exists in relation to the lot prior to the occupier c...

  With more and more Developers turning their minds to the build-to-rent (BTR) model, the question we keep getting asked is, ‘how can you help? It might seem obvious that the need to appoint an Owners Corporation Manager (OCM) is removed, given there will either be no Owners Corporation, or an Owners Corporation owned entirely by one party, at the end of the project. However, bringing on the specialised expertise of an OCM can help set your BTR project up for success, and ensure it continues to run optimally, long after tenants have settled in. Generally, an Owners Corporation Manager, or ‘Build to Rent Manager’ in these projects, would act as the representative of the Owner, working alongside the appointed leasing agent, property manager and/or building manager to ensure the building runs smoothly. So, what are the key areas an OCM can provide support in? And why does it pay to appoint an OCM to your Build to rent project? Establishing a realistic budget Setting a budge...

  The Knight is proud to share news of the appointment of Alex Smale to the role of Training & Sustainability Manager. This newly created role will provide support and training to our team and ensure we remain at the forefront of the industry in both service levels and knowledge. Importantly, Alex will be focused on training our team so that they can better support our Owners Corporations and streamline the process of undertaking sustainability works at their buildings. In addition, Alex will focus on The Knight’s internal sustainability initiatives. This involves chairing our Sustainability Subcommittee, implementing internal cultural changes, and overseeing our journey to becoming a carbon neutral company. The Knight’s commitment to sustainability In 2021, The Knight are taking big steps to become a more sustainable business. We have formed our Sustainability Subcommittee to effect cultural change throughout the business and encourage small but impactful behaviour...

The Owners Corporations and Other Acts (OC Act) Amendment Act 2021 will take effect from 1 December 2021. Much focus has been given to changes which affect the duties of Owners Corporation Managers and the obligations of Developers. But beyond this, a range of provisions are set to come in which relate to the operation of an Owners Corporation and the Committee. We have outlined some of the key OC Act changes here.   A new tiered system: As part of the changes, a new tiered system has been introduced which places more stringent regulations upon high density strata plans. The tiered system is as below: Tier 1: >100 occupiable lots Tier 2: 51-100 occupiable lots Tier 3: 10-50 occupiable lots Tier 4: 3 – 9 occupiable lots Tier 5: 2 occupiable lots or a services only owners corporation Preparation of a Maintenance Plan: As well as changes to obligations regarding financial statements and auditing, under the new amendments Tiers 1 and 2 must prep...

There’s some truth in the saying, “a developer is only as good as their most recent project”. And when a project is handed over to an Owners Corporation on completion, a developer’s hard work can easily be undone by a committee unwilling to spend money on maintenance, or an inexperienced manager who doesn’t provide good advice or fails to keep records in order. Purchasers of an apartment or townhouse have likely been sold a lifestyle of low maintenance and convenience—a dream the developer has worked hard to bring to life, from choosing the location and design of the property through to including state of the art facilities and the finishes within the apartments. But once the work is done and the apartments have settled, the last thing a developer needs is to have their reputation damaged by disappointed owners because the dream has not lived up to the reality. This is where appointing a professional, reputable and reliable Owners Corporation Manager (OCM) comes in. Why it pay...