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Tower - Your Body Corporate Managers

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Merry Christmas
Welcome to the December edition of Tower's monthly newsletter

This complimentary newsletter forms part of the comprehensive service provided to you, our body corporate clients. This newsletter is designed to help protect your investment by keeping you informed and up to date with important news, including any changes in the Strata Industry.

In this edition we look at a variety of strata concerns, including why it is a great idea to appoint a body corporate manager and how to survive the silly season in strata. Find out about this and much more below!

We would like to wish all of our Owners a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. We appreciate your support throughout the year and look forward to working with you again in 2015.

Please note that our office will be closed for the festive season from close of business on Tuesday 23rd December 2014 and will reopen at 8.30am on Monday 5th January 2014.

Kind Regards
The Team at Tower Body Corporate Administration

Who Pays Special Levies: The Buyer or The Seller?

Lisa Rutland, MyBodyCorpReport.com.au

Special levies happen in body corporates more often than you might think. During the sale of a body corporate property who pays the special levy? Is it the buyer or the seller?

Read more.....

Storm Damage

Office of the Commissioner for BCCM

The storm that hit Brisbane and South-East Queensland on 27 November (and others like it) has caused loss, damage and inconvenience to many people.

The BCCM encourage lot owners and anyone involved in a body corporate to work together and to recognise that many people may be under stress at this difficult time.

The BCCM have put together an information sheet to help people in strata schemes deal with problems caused by the storm.

The information provides cleanup tips, insurance information, etc.

The factsheet can be accessed here

8 reasons to appoint a Body Corporate Manager

Tower Body Corporate

Owners in body corporate schemes may question the need for a professional Body Corporate Manager to look after their complex. 'Why not self manage?' a few lot owners always asks.

Read more.....

Body Corporate Governance issues – BCCM discussion paper issued

Frank Higginson, Hynes Legal

The government has issued the next BCCM discussion paper for those who want some light reading over Christmas.

It deals with:

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Towing cars

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The keeping of pets

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Smoking

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Overcrowding of lots

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Debt recovery issues

•

Termination of community title schemes

Read more.....

Latest News

Brisbane hailstorm final figure is expected to exceed $1 billion mark

insurancenews.com.au
Estimated insurance losses from the November 27 Brisbane hailstorm now stand at $804 million, according to the Insurance Council of Australia.

Timely reminder: fire maintenance is a collective responsibility

Drew Mountney, Melbourne Fire & Electrical
The recent fire which broke out at a multistorey apartment in Docklands is a timely reminder to owners and owners corporations across Australia that fire maintenance and management is a collective responsibility.

ID Theft a Rising Concern for Strata

Marc Howe, Sourceable
A rise in ID theft throughout Australia’s major cities should be of major concern for strata managers, given the use of letterboxes by fraudsters to access the personal documents of unit block residents.

Kitchen/bathroom renovation won’t deliver a windfall

Jennifer Duke, Property Observer
It’s common investment talk that to do up a property with a new kitchen or bathroom should reap you thousands of dollars in added value. Minor renovations are more likely to have an impact with a unit.

Respond Lightning Fast to a LAAN notices from Telco companies

Allison Benson and Nicola Bailey, Kerin Benson Lawyers

LAAN Notice: What steps should you take when your owners corporation is issued with a Land Access and Activity Notices (LAAN) by a telecommunications company?

Find these news stories interesting? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook for regular updates.

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Noise, nuisance, neighbours, the silly season and strata

Allison Benson, Kerin Benson Lawyers
Common complaints around this time of year concerning apartment neighbours are increased noise, smoke drifting into lots, guests or other owners or occupiers parking in visitors parking or on the common property and guests or mess left in the common areas.

Read more.....

Strata Resource - Committee Concerns

Looking for great Queensland Strata information?

Try the LookUpStrata FactSheet: Committee Concerns

Find links to resources, mixed media, ebooks as well as articles, training links and latest news concerning strata committees.....

It is all contained in one convenient FactSheet....EXCELLENT!