Introduction
The Owners Corporations and Other Acts Amendment Act 2021 (Vic) (Amendment Act) has been enacted. These changes will come into force on 1 December 2021. This article seeks to summarise some of the key amendments made to the Owners Corporations Act 2006 (the Act).
The five tiers of Owners Corporations:
The Act previously did not differentiate between different sizes or types of Owners Corporations (OC): there was a ‘one size fits all’ approach. The amendments made to the Act now differentiates between different tiers of OCs.
The intention behind these amendments is primarily:
- to reduce the red-tape and compliance burdens on smaller OCs and to regulate OCs at a level which is appropriate for their size;
- to improve the quality of OC managers and enhance protection for OC’s;
- to improve developers’ duties to the OCs they create; and
- to improve the governance and financial administration of an OC’s.
The changes introduce a five-tier system for OC’s, with each tier imposing different obligations and requirements on an OC.
An OC’s tier is determined by the number of occupiable lots, and whether it includes a services-only OC. Five (5) tiers of OCs now exist, ranging from a tier one OC (comprising more than 100 occupiable lots that is not a services-only OC) to a tier five OC (an OC for a 2-lot subdivision or a services-only owners corporation).
The Amending Act also introduces definitions for a non-occupiable lot, occupiable lot and services only OC.
Below are links to the relevant sections in each OC.
Common seal no longer required:
The amendments ensure that it will no longer be a requirement for an OC to possess a common seal, and the use of the common seal will no longer be a requirement for the execution of documents for and on behalf of an OC. Before these amendments become law, an OC can only execute documents by way of affixing the common seal on the document which, in turn, requires the approval of members of the OC pursuant to section 20 of the Act. These current arrangements are cumbersome and unwieldy. The amendments to the Act will now allow for documents to be executed by individual lot owners (at least 2), provided certain requirements are met.
Existing OCs must still use their common seal to execute documents. However, by ordinary resolution, these OCs may determine that their common seals are no longer required and can vote to destroy their common seal. This would allow these OCs to execute documents in accordance with the new regulations. This is an action which OCs’ should consider, to allow for more flexibility in entering into contracts.
Commencement of legal proceedings and debt recovery:
Historically, an OC could primarily only institute legal proceedings if a special resolution was passed. The Amendment Act now allows for an OC to institute legal proceedings, by ordinary resolution, in the Magistrates’ Court for all matters within the civil jurisdictional limit of the Magistrates’ Court. This allows an OC to institute legal proceedings for large debt recovery proceedings, without the jurisdictional limitations of VCAT.
Additional powers of VCAT
The Amendment Act allows VCAT to order a lot owner to pay reasonable costs incurred by an OC in recovering any unpaid amount from the lot owner. This gives the OC greater incentives to pursue lot owners for unpaid amounts in VCAT.
Additional authority of an OC
Additional powers are given to an OC including, but not limited to:
- The OC may levy additional annual fees on a lot owner if the OC has incurred additional costs resulting from the actions of that lot owner. For example, the OC now has statutory authority to levy additional premium fees arising from insurance claims involving the willful acts or gross negligence of a lot owner, which result in a higher premium charge.
- The OC may levy damages to common property whereby the damage is not covered by the insurance, or the cost is less than the excess amount that would have been payable on an insurance claim regarding the damages.
- Provided certain requirements are met, the OC may dispose of abandoned goods on the common property.
- The OC can make rules regarding external alterations of a building to protect the quiet enjoyment of all lot owners, rules protecting the structural integrity of any building affected by the alterations, and rules ensuring the market value of any other lot does not decrease as a result of the alterations. However, unreasonable rules restricting the installation of sustainability items are prohibited. For the purposes of this new provision, a ‘sustainability item’ includes any item that promotes renewable energy, such as the installation of solar panels.
Additional Disclosure Requirements at the First OC Meeting:
The Amendment Act imposes additional disclosure requirements on the applicant (for registration of the plan of subdivision) at the first meeting. The applicant (who is typically the developer responsible for the project) must provide, in addition to the existing disclosure documents:
- a maintenance plan;
- the building maintenance manual;
- an asset register;
- copies and/or details of any warranties; and
- copies of any specifications, reports, certificates, permits, notices or orders in relation to the plan of subdivision.
The applicant must also disclose any relationship with the OC manager and any specific financial benefits that will foreseeably flow to the applicant as a result of that relationship with the OC manager.
These new disclosure requirements aim to ensure transparency in the relationship between the applicant and the OC manager, requiring the disclosure of financial consideration or upfront payments (which in many instances have been a feature of the OC industry).
Stricter Regulation of Management Contracts:
The Amendment Act introduces greater restrictions on an applicant for registration of the plan of subdivision (applicant) (i.e., the original owner/developer), who appoints a third-party manager prior to the first meeting.
Firstly, if a third-party manager has been appointed by the applicant, prior to the first meeting, the contract of appointment automatically expires at that first meeting.
Secondly, if the applicant has entered into another contract that relates to the OC (e.g. maintenance or cleaning contracts), and if the applicant benefits from that contract, then the term of that contract cannot exceed three (3) years in duration.
These changes were enacted to prevent long ‘lock in’ management contracts (which are usually between 5 and 20 years in length and afford OC’s limited or no rights of termination) because these contracts often include large payments by the manager/service provider to the applicant in return for securing the long term contract.
Further restrictions introduced are as follows:
- The initial owner, or an associate of the owner, must not be appointed as the manager of the OC and cannot vote on any resolution of the OC that relates to any building defects in or on a building on the plan of subdivision.
- The initial owner must not propose an unreasonable or unsustainable annual budget for the OC.
- The initial owner must not designate any common property or services as a private lot.
- The initial owner must not receive payment from the manager in relation to the manger’s contract of appointment.
Additional responsibilities of the OC:
Each OC tier has additional responsibilities in relation to their records and financial statements.
A tier one OC must now appoint a person to be the manager of the OC. However, by special resolution, an OC can opt out of this requirement. OC’s that are considered a tier two, tier three, tier four or tier five are not required to appoint a manager. For an OC of any tier, the appointment of a manager cannot exceed a term of three (3) years.
A tier one, tier two or tier three OC must prepare annual financial statements in accordance with the Australian Accounting Standards. These financial statements must be presented at the OC’s general meeting. A tier four OC is required to prepare annual financial statements for annual fees that are levied.
Furthermore, a tier one or tier two OC must prepare and approve a maintenance plan. A tier three, tier four or tier five OC may prepare and approve a maintenance plan; however, they are not required to do so.
Consumer protection measures for management contracts:
The new regulations impose certain restrictions on the contract of appointment of an OC manager. These protections are for the benefit of lot owners in the OC. The restrictions are as follows:
- The contract must not include a term which requires the OC to pass a resolution (of any kind), convene a general meeting, or take an additional step, to revoke the appointment of an OC manager.
- The contract must not include a term that allows the manager to renew the contract of appointment at the manager’s option.
- The contract must not include a term that requires a tier one or tier two OC to give three (3) months or more notice of intention to revoke the manager’s appointment.
- The contract must not include a term that requires a tier three, tier four or tier five OC to give one (1) month or more notice of intention to revoke the manager’s appointment.
- The contract must not include a term for the automatic renewal of the contract of appointment if the OC fails to give notice to not renew the contract.
- The contract must not include a term that restricts the ability of the OC to refuse consent to an assignment of the contract of appointment to a person appointed by the manager.
Consumer protection measures for management contracts:
The new regulations impose certain restrictions on the contract of appointment of an OC manager. These protections are for the benefit of lot owners in the OC. The restrictions are as follows:
- The contract must not include a term which requires the OC to pass a resolution (of any kind), convene a general meeting, or take an additional step, to revoke the appointment of an OC manager.
- The contract must not include a term that allows the manager to renew the contract of appointment at the manager’s option.
- The contract must not include a term that requires a tier one or tier two OC to give three (3) months or more notice of intention to revoke the manager’s appointment.
- The contract must not include a term that requires a tier three, tier four or tier five OC to give one (1) month or more notice of intention to revoke the manager’s appointment.
- The contract must not include a term for the automatic renewal of the contract of appointment if the OC fails to give notice to not renew the contract.
- The contract must not include a term that restricts the ability of the OC to refuse consent to an assignment of the contract of appointment to a person appointed by the manager.
Additional duties of Managers of an OC:
The Amendment Act introduces additional duties of the OC Manager that were made for the benefit of the lot owners. The additional duties are as follows:
- The OC manager must ensure that any goods or services procured are obtained
- at competitive prices.
- The OC manager must not exert any pressure on any member of the OC to influence the outcome of any vote or election.
- For any contract that gives commissions or benefits to the OC manager, written notice must first be given to the chairperson of the OC, disclosing any commission or benefit received as a result of that contract.
OC managers now have an obligation to disclose a beneficial relationship with a supplier.
The OC manager, who must now have professional indemnity insurance in place, must make several disclosures including any commission or benefit gained as a result of the beneficial relationship, any benefit (commission or otherwise) to the chairperson of the OC, and details of receipts and disbursements held on trust for the OC.
New prohibitions
The Amendment Act prohibits lot owners from repairing, altering or maintaining the common property of the OC, or repairing or altering a service (relating to a lot that is for the benefit of more than one lot in the OC), without express permission from the OC.
Voting rights when in arrears
Lot owners who are in arrears for any amount owed to an OC are not entitled to vote on a resolution unless the amount in arrears is first paid in full, save for voting on matters that require special or unanimous resolutions. If lot owners would like to vote in matters that do not require special or unanimous resolutions, they must satisfy all rent arrears at least 4 business days, or in cash at any time, before the vote.
Proxies
A lot owner may authorise, in writing, an individual to vote on any matter through a proxy vote. For a proxy to be validly authorised, the lot owner must use the prescribed form, specify the individual to use as proxy, and deliver the form to the secretary of the OC.
A lot owner may still vote at any meeting instead of the proxy, and may revoke authorisation at any time of a proxy by giving written notice to the secretary of the OC. A proxy authorisation automatically expires 12 months after authority is given, or at an earlier date specified in the authorisation form.
Transitional Provisions
The Amendment Act allows for a transitional period from the date the changes are enacted. Specifically, a tier one OC has 12 months to create a maintenance plan, whereas a tier two OC has 24 months.
