Body Corporate Resources
Everything you need to understand and manage your body corporate fees. Guides, official links, and tools for Australian property owners.
Free Checklists
Interactive checklists to help you make informed decisions about body corporate properties.
Pre-Purchase Checklist
18 essential checks before buying a body corporate property
- Financial health checks
- Building condition assessment
- Red flag indicators
Are My Fees Worth It?
Evaluate whether your body corporate fees represent good value
- Point-based scoring system
- Annual cost calculator
- Personalized recommendations
Sinking Fund Health-Check
Assess if your body corporate is prepared for future major repairs
- State-specific guidance
- Three-color rating system
- Special levy risk assessment
Committee Performance Health Check
Evaluate your body corporate committee's effectiveness across 36 criteria
- Four-category assessment
- Excellent/Good/Fair/Poor rating
- Actionable recommendations
Renovation Approval Checklist
22 steps to get body corporate approval for your renovation
- Pre-application to sign-off
- Contractor insurance requirements
- Compliance red flags
AGM Preparation Checklist
25 tasks to run a compliant and effective annual general meeting
- Full timeline from 8 weeks out
- Notice & quorum requirements
- Post-AGM follow-up steps
Fees Calculator
Estimate your body corporate fees by multiplying the total annual budget by your unit's percentage share of the total lot/unit entitlement.
How it works
Your unit's entitlement ÷ Total entitlement = Your percentage share
Total annual budget × Your percentage share = Your annual fee
Step 1: Find the total annual budget and your unit's entitlement
Add up all estimated expenses: administration, insurance, and sinking fund costs. Approved at AGM.
A number assigned to your unit representing your share of ownership, found in your community management statement (CMS).
Step 2: Enter total lot entitlement for the complex
Sum of all unit entitlements in the complex. For example, if your unit's entitlement is 100 and the total is 10,000, your share is 1%.
Enter all three values above to calculate your estimated body corporate fees
Related calculators
Where to Find This Information
- • Total Annual Budget: Found in the AGM minutes or budget documents, typically provided by your body corporate manager
- • Your Unit's Entitlement: Listed in your Community Management Statement (CMS) or title documents
- • Total Lot Entitlement: Also in the CMS or available from your body corporate manager
- • Example: If total budget is $100,000, your entitlement is 100, and total is 10,000, your annual fee = $100,000 × (100 ÷ 10,000) = $100,000 × 1% = $1,000
Guides & Articles
Before You Buy
Understanding Your Fees
Reducing Costs
Governance & Management
Official Resources by State
Government tribunals, legislation, and official resources for each Australian state and territory.
Glossary of Terms
Common body corporate and strata terms explained in plain English.
Admin Fund (Administrative Fund)
The fund used for day-to-day running costs of the body corporate, including insurance, maintenance, cleaning, utilities, and management fees. Typically replenished quarterly through owner levies.
AGM (Annual General Meeting)
The yearly meeting of all owners to review finances, elect committee members, approve budgets, and make decisions about the body corporate. Attendance is important as decisions made affect all owners.
Body Corporate
The legal entity formed when property is subdivided, consisting of all lot owners. Called "Owners Corporation" in Victoria and some other states. Responsible for managing common property and shared expenses.
By-Laws
Rules governing the use of lots and common property within a strata scheme. Cover topics like pets, renovations, noise, parking, and use of facilities. Must be registered and can be enforced.
Common Property
Areas and facilities shared by all owners, such as driveways, gardens, pools, gyms, hallways, and building structures. Maintained by the body corporate using levy funds.
EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting)
A special meeting called outside the regular AGM schedule to address urgent matters that can't wait until the next AGM. Can be called by the committee or a specified number of owners.
Levy
The regular payment (usually quarterly) each owner must pay to the body corporate to fund the admin and sinking funds. Based on unit entitlement and decided at the AGM.
Lot Entitlement / Unit Entitlement
The share of ownership and voting power assigned to each lot, usually based on the size or value of the unit. Determines your share of levies and votes at meetings.
Owners Corporation
The Victorian term for Body Corporate. The legal entity responsible for managing common property and administering the affairs of a strata scheme.
Sinking Fund (Capital Works Fund)
Long-term savings fund for major repairs and replacements like roof repairs, painting, lift replacement, and capital improvements. Prevents the need for large special levies.
Special Levy
A one-off payment required from owners when the admin or sinking funds are insufficient to cover expenses. Often for unexpected repairs or major works not adequately funded.
Strata Manager
Professional company or person hired by the body corporate to handle administrative tasks, financial management, maintenance coordination, and AGM organisation. Charges management fees.
Strata Scheme
The legal structure for subdivided property ownership in NSW and some other states. Equivalent to Body Corporate scheme in Queensland.
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