Inside the Chaos of Body Corporate Maintenance

Why good intentions aren’t always enough

There’s a moment that tends to happen in many body corporate meetings. It’s not dramatic. No raised voices. No one storms out.

But you leave with a sense that something didn’t quite line up.

Not wrong, exactly, just inconsistent.

It often shows up around something as ordinary as maintenance.

• Jocelyn Magazine is filled with ideas for coastal living, travel, downsizing, healthy eating and creative pursuits. If we inspire your next purchase through links in this email, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

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The assumption gap

At a recent AGM, a simple idea was put forward: an annual maintenance reporting checklist. Nothing overly complex, just a structured way for owners to flag issues ahead of budgeting and planning.

The response? Largely dismissive. The prevailing view was that such a process was unnecessary.

Owners, it was suggested, should simply organise two quotes when they notice a problem and present them to the committee for approval.

On the surface, that sounds practical. Efficient, even.

But it rests on an assumption that doesn’t always hold true: that every owner knows this is how the body corporate maintenance process works.

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What new owners don’t know

In reality, many owners — particularly new ones — aren’t always told this.

There’s rarely a welcome pack that includes maintenance pathways. No clear guide outlining responsibilities, or how to raise issues, or what the committee expects.

So people do what seems reasonable:

• they mention issues informally
• they wait for a scheduled discussion
• or they assume someone else is handling it

Others take initiative, organise quotes, and hope they’ve followed the right process.

And sometimes, these approaches exist side by side with very different outcomes.

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When process becomes personal

In the absence of a clear, agreed pathway, decisions can begin to feel uneven.

One owner gathers quotes for a repair, only to have the proposal declined.

Another quote — obtained separately, at a lower cost — is later accepted.

It may be entirely well-intentioned. Committees are often trying to balance limited budgets with necessary repairs.

But without a transparent process, the outcome can feel less about what is being proposed, and more about how — and by whom.

That’s where uncertainty creeps in.

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The cost of informality

Informal systems can work, particularly in small complexes where communication is strong and expectations are shared.

But over time, they can also lead to:

• inconsistent decision-making
• delays in addressing maintenance
• confusion around responsibilities, and
• a sense of inequity among owners

None of which are intentional, perhaps.

Most committees are made up of volunteers doing their best, often without formal training, navigating legislation like the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 while trying to keep costs under control. That’s no small task.

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A case for something simple

Which is why even modest structure can make a difference.

A basic, annual checklist:

• gives every owner the same opportunity to raise concerns
• creates a shared timeline for consideration
• supports more consistent budgeting
• and reduces the guesswork around “what to do when something goes wrong”

It doesn’t replace initiative. Owners can still act when urgent issues arise.

But it provides a baseline, a common understanding.

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This body corporate maintenance checklist is provided as a general guide for owners.
Processes may vary between body corporates and should align with applicable legislation and by-laws.

DOWNLOAD THE CHECKLIST HERE

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Not about being right

It’s tempting, in these situations, to focus on who was right in the room. But that’s rarely the most useful question. A better one might be:

Is the process clear enough that a new owner would know exactly what to do?

If the answer is no, there’s an opportunity, not for conflict, but for improvement.

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How things shift

Body corporate living is, in many ways, a shared experiment. It relies on goodwill, communication, and a degree of patience. And sometimes, it benefits from stepping back and looking not just at individual decisions, but at the systems behind them.

Because when those systems are clear and consistent, everything else tends to follow more easily. Even the small things. Like a crack in the rendering, waiting to be fixed.

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Thinking of buying into a body corporate?

Before you commit, it’s worth taking a closer look at how a complex is really operating behind the scenes.

👉 Download the Body Corporate Health Check — a practical checklist to help you spot issues early and avoid costly surprises.

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About the author

With several years’ experience as a body corporate secretary, Jocelyn brings a practical, real-world perspective to buying and living in townhouse and apartment complexes.

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• Jocelyn Magazine is filled with ideas for coastal living, travel, downsizing, healthy eating and creative pursuits. If we inspire your next purchase through links in this email, we may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you.

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