The Final Report of the Body Corporate Review was released in 2005 and recommended a new legislative framework for bodies corporate (now called 'owners corporations'). The Review's findings followed an extensive public consultation process that included:

• the publication of an Issues Paper in October 2003
• a bodies corporate seminar
• the release of a Future Directions Paper in March 2004
• two rounds of public submissions, and
• a significant number of stakeholder consultation meetings.

The new legislation
The first new legislation required to implement the Review's findings was the Owners Corporation Act 2006, which was passed by Parliament in September 2006. It is due to commence at the end of 2007.

The new Act reforms the current regulatory scheme for the management of bodies corporate laid out under the Subdivisions Act 1988 and the Subdivision (Body Corporate) Regulations 2001.

This new legislative framework provides greater clarity, flexibility and guidance regarding the operation of owners corporations and administration of their affairs. It also helps empower lot owners and encourages their greater participation by ensuring they have the information and tools necessary to effectively manage rights and responsibilities and to work together to resolve disputes.

Key features include:

• Clarification of roles and responsibilities for owners corporations, committees of management, managers, lot owners and occupiers.
• Increased protection for body corporate funds.
• Improved avenues for dispute resolution.
• Improved governance arrangements.
• Enhanced regulation for disclosure of information.
• Improved enforcement provisions.

The new framework will also help reduce the risk of financial loss to owners corporation members and follow-on costs to the community.

Current stage
Regulations to support the new Owners Corporations Act 2006 and replace the Subdivision (Body Corporate) Regulations 2001 have now been made. Among other things, the new regulations prescribe:

• Classes of prescribed owners corporations.
• Insurance requirements for owners corporations.
• When an existing corporation must establish an owners corporation register.
• Information to be included on an owners corporation certificate.
• Fees, costs and charges.
• Model rules for owners corporations.

Download Regulations
Download the Owners Corporations Regulations 2007.

• Owners Corporations Regulations 2007 (PDF | 161 Kb)

More Information

• Owners Corporation Act 2006 (link to CAV legislation page)
• Changes to body corporate laws (fact sheet PDF | 98 Kb)
• Final Report of the Body Corporate Review (PDF | 692 Kb)
• Exposure Draft of the Owners Corporation Bill (PDF | 420 Kb)
• Media release of 21 December 2005 (PDF | 26 Kb)
• Issues paper of October 2003 (PDF | 415 Kb)
• Future Directions discussion paper of 2004 (PDF | 342 Kb)
• Media release of 21 October 2003
• Media release of 30 January 2004
• Regulatory Impact Statement proposed Owners Corporations Regulations 2007 (PDF | 1.249 Mb)