uoaq.org.au May 2013 UnitNews 1

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FLOOREDBY CITY VIEW TAX

The official newsletter of Unit Owners Association QLD MARCH 2011MAY 2013

Become a Member Today Click to Join now www.uoaq.org.au

EST.1978

VIEW TAX REMOVED BY THE UOAQ

uoaq.org.auUnitNews May 20132

BrisbaneP 3220 0959 or www.uoaq.org.au and request to communicate to a particular person Sue Ekert, Bob Boundy, Elle Young, Paul Cassels.Published by Unit Owners Association QLD

Editor Paul Cassels

Gold CoastWayne Stevens, Greg Carroll, Roger Dearing

Art DirectionDan Hancock - P 3162 8823 E hi@danhancock.com.au

Web DevelopmentJohn Connole - P 0439 879 740 E john@stickybeakmedia.com.au

Help for MembersMembers of the UOAQ are welcome to contact committee members of the association for any help on any body corporate matter.

SponsorsWe appreciate the support of our sponsors to help us do the work we do. To become a sponsor of UOAQ, please contact Paul Cassels on 3220 0959

Unit Owners Assocation QLD6th Floor. 333 Adelaide St, Brisbane Q 4000E help@uoaq.org.au P 3220 0959uoaq.org.au

DisclaimerArticles contributed to this newsletter are published as a service to members and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or policy of this Association. To contact the committee of the UOAQ for assistance with a body corporate matter please e-mail help@uoaq.org.au

www.uoaq.org.au

Unit Owners Association QLD

From the Editor Paul Cassels

Paul Cassels Editor

For the Win!Dear readers we have enjoyed a win with the reversal of the View tax on the Gold Coast Rates a total of $1.7 million dollars for owner occupiers, it is a good start and now for the Brisbane City council Rates Rort and the Sunshine Coast view tax. We used members and friends to visit all councillors in each Ward and discuss where they stand on a reversal, a simple YES or NO. Then let them know how much support they will lose if they keep ripping Unit Owners off. Remember B.A.R.E. saved unit owners $10.6 million dollars in Brisbane but we are still paying $2.5 million more than we should.

Only with support this will change. Sign up join and nominate your building for building membership. We gained over 1,000 new members last year alone. Just think of what we could all achieve with another predicted 2,000 this year.

We are starting to tender contracts for lifts, insurance, BC Management, increased interest from cash flow, LED lighting just to start for Building Members. Join in and save.

Just another long weekend away Part 1It turned out to be quite an expensive trip - no, not so much for me like for my parents, and no they did not sponsor it, and also it was not my fault. At the end it was their calling me and asking “What are your plans for the coming Easter?”

“I am going to Innamincka or Noccundra” - I said. “OK, wait a second, we will get our map and have a look where it is... Hmm... Could you call us tomorrow? We have to get another map. Our’s is quite good on the coast, it shows all the towns there, but as soon as you leave the shore it is not showing anything...” “There is nothing wrong with your map” - I answered quietly, more mumbling than saying it properly.

“What!” - exclaimed my parents.“Your map is correct. There is simply nothing wrong” - I replied, now louder and clearly.

And this was the trigger for my parents’ high expenses. For the preceding five days they were calling me every day on my mobile phone for at least one hour, trying to convince me to change my plans. No chance – I made up my mind. It is how my parents spent their monthly salary for March. And, I..., early morning on Good Friday, jumped on my bike and off I went.

yourstratamanagement.com.au

Coralie Mott (BA Dip Ed, Cert IV in BCM)Director and Body Corporate Manager

Suite 35, Level 6. “Northpoint”231 North Quay Brisbane QLD 4000Telephone 07 3211 4445Fax 07 3211 4410Mobile 0419 741 066Email coralie.mott@ctsm.com.auwww.ctsm.com.au

CTS Management

Strata Inspections and Reporting

Quality BuildingManagement Pty Ltd.Quality BuildingManagement Pty Ltd.

Hartley’s Body CorporateManagement

Caretaker Duties, Valuations and Tenders

Are you a member of a body corporate and concerned about the level of remuneration paid to your resident unit manager?

Does your body corporate wish to call tenders for the caretaker duties?

Our company has prepared numerous valuations of Caretaker Duties for buildings from Port Douglas to Coolangatta. We have experience with large hotel style complexes of three hundred units right down to small boutique developments of less than fifty units for both valuations and a calling of tenders.

For a fixed fee quotation or to discuss these specialist valuation services call us on 07 3858 8222 or email enquiries@leary.com.au

Leary & Partners

OAM DUniv

Level 7, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane Q 4000garybugden.com

07 3218 7378 P 0418 190 658 M gary@mystrata.com E

Working for all sector stakeholders

• Exclusive body corporate law practice

• Over 30 years experience

• Former first tier law firm partner

• Quality leagal services at a reasonable price

Fellow of the Australian College of Community Association Lawyers

1300 554 165 | info@insuranceguys.com.au

Shandit Pty Ltd are proudly corporate authorised representatives of InsuranceAdvisernet Australia Pty Ltd. Authorised representative number 424246

Go to www.insuranceguys.com.au to get a quote!

We specialise in insuring buildings over $2million, by providing:

An online quoting system that allows you to provide quote

information in minutes.

Access up to 7 strata insurance companies (including insurers

who do not deal with the public).

Advice about your existing insurance program and recom-

mendations where we feel your current cover is inadequate.

Online quotes get a 25% rebate of commission directly back

to your Body Corporate insurance premiums.

Professional management of claims.

We love balcony gardensEmai pictures through today and we’ll publish them in Unit News

Feature Story

uoaq.org.au May 2013 UnitNews 3

Currently we have two levels of UAOQ membership:

1. Individual Membership – provides services to individual owners in relation to their personal unit investment, this does not address issues related to Body Corporate Committee issues.2. Building Membership – addresses issues at the level of Body Corporate Committees and Bodies Corporate, which are usually more complex.

By becoming a “Building Member” of the UAOQ your building will see the following benefits/improvements:

Examples of financially measurable benefits of Building Membership provided are:

• HigherInterestratesonBankWorking Accounts• DiscountedInsurancearrangements• AssistanceintenderingforBodyCorporate Management Services• Abilitytoentergrouptenderingfor building services

*Please see attached document “Examples of Financial Benefits” for a more detailed explanation on these items

Examples of non-financial benefits:

• Provideadviceandassistancewitharange ofbodycorporatecommitteeissues• Recommendexpertstoassistfurther with issues that can’t be resolved with the assistanceofaUOAQvolunteer

Building Membership Testimonial: (as seen by unit complex “Carmel by the Sea”)The UAOQ were avid supporters of Carmel by the Sea’s Body Corporate Committee in the process of:

• ConsistentlyrejectingCaretaker Extensionrequeststoitscontract,(owners overwhelmingly voted down with convictionCaretakerrequestsbymajority intheorderof84-6votesinsomeyears, resultingintheincumbentCaretaker’s Contractexpiring)• Drawingupamoredetailedperformance basedScheduleofCaretakerDuties• Goingtoopenmarkettenderforanew

manager,thenewcontractislimitedto3 years,withahighercalibreManagerfor NIL cost compared to the previous incumbent’s$242,000(approx.)• Providingsavingstoownersintheorder ofuptoonethirdofannuallevy costs.Inthe2013year,thecommitteehas recommendedlevyreductionsof17%• ProvidingmentoringservicestoBC Committeesalignedwiththisinitiative regarding Management rights contracts where requested

* For further clarification of the above items see attached to this communication the “Carmel by the Sea Case Study File”

Frequently Asked Questions about UOAQ Building Membership Costs

What is a building membership going to cost you?• Buildingswithfewerthan50apartments– haveaflatfeeof$500perannum• Buildingswithmorethan50apartments– cost is $10 per lot/apartment per annum

Is there a minimum membership term? 1 year

How confidant is the UOAQ that a building membership will offer your building savings?The UAOQ offer a money back guarantee available for the first year if we are unable to save your building the cost of your membership in the first year, if the building keeps the recommended strategies in place then it will continue to save the cost of the membership each year. * To be eligible for this offer your building must implement a cash flow management strategy (there is no extra charge for this service). Please see attached <<insert name of cash flow management Document>> for a description of this process. ** Money back guarantee is only valid only for the first year of membership.

Please note that the UAOQ is a not for profit organisation run by a volunteer workforce. This means that all funds raised go back into providing services for unit owners. Our website (www.uoaq.org.au) provides profiles of its volunteer workforce, there is an impressive cumulative 80 years+ of background and experience brought to the industry. (Website navigation directions: Home Page >> Contact >> Committee Profile half way down page).

We trust the above outline communicates the high level of assistance we are able to provide; we look forward to your building becoming a UOAQ member.

Kind RegardsUAOQ association

BenefitsofBuildingMembership– April 2013.

uoaq.org.auUnitNews May 20134

Unit News

COMMUNITY LIVING SOLUTIONSReducing Costs & Increasing Value for Unit Owners

yourstratamanagement.com.au

PROUD SUPPORTER OF UOAQ

Everything Covered?

QBSA ACT Licence No. 109408a0

inspections@qbma.com.au www.qbm.com.au

For Professional, Friendly assistance and quotes call

1300 880 466

Sinking Fund ForecastInsurance ValuationBuilders WarrantyCondition AssessmentsSafety Risk ReportsAsbestos ReportsFire Safety ReportsAnd much more

Strata Inspections and Reporting

Quality BuildingManagement Pty Ltd.Quality BuildingManagement Pty Ltd.

Caretaker Duties Valuations and Tenders

Are you a member of a body corporate and concerned about the level of remunera-tion paid to your resident unit manager?

Does your body corporate wish to call tenders for the caretaker duties?

Our company has prepared numerous valuations of Caretaker Duties for buildings from Port Douglas to Coolangatta. We have experience with large hotel style com-plexes of three hundred units right down to small boutique developments of less than fifty units for both valuations and a calling of tenders.

For a fixed fee quotation or to discuss these specialist valuation services

call us on 1800 808 991 or email enquiries@leary.com.au

Caretaker Duties, Valuations and Tenders

Are you a member of a body corporate and concerned about the level of remuneration paid to your resident unit manager?

Does your body corporate wish to call tenders for the caretaker duties?

Our company has prepared numerous valuations of Caretaker Duties for buildings from Port Douglas to Coolangatta. We have experience with large hotel style complexes of three hundred units right down to small boutique developments of less than fifty units for both valuations and a calling of tenders.

For a fixed fee quotation or to discuss these specialist valuation services call us on 07 3858 8222 or email enquiries@leary.com.au

Leary & Partners

Areyouawareofnew requirements under Work Health andSafetyAct?Body Corporate Committee members now face the prospect of heavy fines and possible jail sentences under amendments to the Work Health & Safety Act 2011 (Qld). Commercial properties, including commercial strata properties, are now considered a workplace and committee members have a duty to ensure the property that they administer is safe. This new legislation includes the requirement for commercial properties to conduct workplace audits & annual safety measures reporting.

This now means that where a person has been exposed to a risk that could result in death or serious injury, individual committee members can be penalised up to $600,000 or 5 years imprisonment. This duty extends to volunteer committee members, and to avoid heavy penalties, body corporate committees should take all necessary measures to comply with the new legislation.

This legislation has a considerable impact on body corporate committees and many of our commercial strata clients are unaware of the changed legislation when we discuss this with them. While strata policies may have provisions to cover legal fees for appealing against WH&S fines, most strata policies do not cover the fine or penalty itself. The only way body corporate committee members can avoid heavy penalties, is to make sure that they don’t fail to meet the obligations under the act.

If your body corporate has not yet addressed the new Work Health and Safety legislation requirements, we recommend this matter be tabled as an agenda item at your next committee meeting. Advice should be sought from your strata manager or a qualified workplace health & safety adviser to ensure your property is compliant.

Tyrone ShandimanStrata Insurance SolutionsAuthorised Representative No. 4042471300 554 165tyrone@stratainsurancesolutions.com.au

Shandit Pty Ltd T/As Strata Insurance Solutions is a Corporate Authorised Representative (No. 404246) of Insurance Advisernet Australia AFSL No 240549, ABN 15 003 886 687.

WECAN’TDOITWITHOUT YOU

SIGNUPTODAY.uoaq.org.au

uoaq.org.au May 2013 UnitNews 5

ExamplesofFinancialBenefits to Building MemberExplained(a) HigherInterestratesonBankWorkingAccounts The bank working accounts of Bodies Corporate generally

receive substantially lower than market interest rates on their significant funds. This is mainly due to the majority of funds being lodged with the major bank supporter of the industry. These accounts are generally seen as being a captive market; with little to no other option. Banks are able to then pay very low rates whilst retaining support via BC Managers.

The UOAQ have sought higher deposit accounts from other banks paying more commercial rates. To analyse your buildings cash flow management procedures we ask for your building to provide a transactional bank statement of your working account for the last year. Using this information we carry out the analysis, which will likely confirm the very significant potential additional interest return available to your building

See the file xxx attached to this communication is an example of the report that we would provide after completing our analysis. This example was for a building of approx. 100 lots, by implementing our suggestions they are now able to earn an additional $6,300 interest annually.

(b) DiscountedInsurancearrangements: Taking the management of insurance away from Body Corporate Managers, We have sought out a specialist Body Corporate Insurance Broker who is prepared to discount the brokerage charged on the insurance business they advise upon. This can be a substantial saving, given that insurance can often be the third highest cost to the body corporate after Caretaker’s costs.

The added benefit of contacting an insurance broker is a higher level of professional knowledge and expertise than traditional Body Corporate Managers are able to provide.

Discounted Insurance can be investigated by providing us with a copy of the insurance arrangements from your last Notice of AGM, and sign off on an authority to provide the claims experience to the nominated insurance broker (this document will be provided to you from the UOAQ upon request). this will also outline the potential savings from this initiative.

*See summary of services from the insurance broker file attached to this communication.

(c) AssistanceintenderingforBodyCorporateManagement Services As an independent and impartial body, we provide the service to undertake the tendering process, appraisal of tenders, and recommendation to committee in respect of the engagement of Body Corporate Management Services. The incumbent Body Corporate Manager traditionally handles this process. Acting in this manner can be seen as a conflict of interest as they could potentially be appointed as a beneficiary of their own recommendation.

*A full package outlining this service in detail is available upon request. **A separate fee is payable for this service.

■ Financial Management ■ Agendas & Meetings ■ Administration of your Scheme ■ Maintenance ■ Dispute

Resolution ■ Compliance

Hartley’s Body Corporate Management

‘Looking after all your Body Corporate Needs’

Unit News

CTS Management

Proud Member of:Contact our o�ce for an Obligation Free Proposal

Suite 35, Level 6, "Northpoint", 231 North Quay Brisbane Qld 4000

Phone 07 3211 4445Fax 07 3211 4410Email info@ctsm.com.au

www.ctsm.com.au

“Performance Based” Management SolutionsOur Professional Body Corporate Management Service includes:

- Performance Based Management Fees- Maximising Returns on Surplus Funds with Cash Flow Management- Formulating Cost E�ective Budgets- Conducting E�cient Meetings- Management of Insurance Quotations & Claims- Extensive Industry Knowledge & Experience- Transparency & Accountability For All Owners

OAM DUniv

Level 7, 127 Creek Street, Brisbane Q 4000garybugden.com

07 3218 7378 P 0418 190 658 M gary@mystrata.com E

Working for all sector stakeholders

• Exclusive body corporate law practice

• Over 30 years experience

• Former first tier law firm partner

• Quality leagal services at a reasonable price

Fellow of the Australian College of Community Association Lawyers

1300 554 165 | info@insuranceguys.com.au

Shandit Pty Ltd are proudly corporate authorised representatives of InsuranceAdvisernet Australia Pty Ltd. Authorised representative number 424246

Go to www.insuranceguys.com.au to get a quote!

We specialise in insuring buildings over $2million, by providing:

An online quoting system that allows you to provide quote

information in minutes.

Access up to 7 strata insurance companies (including insurers

who do not deal with the public).

Advice about your existing insurance program and recom-

mendations where we feel your current cover is inadequate.

Online quotes get a 25% rebate of commission directly back

to your Body Corporate insurance premiums.

Professional management of claims.

Thankyouforreading.uoaq.org.au