Understanding your responsibilities as a body corporate unit title owner is paramount to maintaining harmonious living within shared spaces. As a member of a body corporate, you're part of a collective responsible for managing common areas and upholding shared regulations. This involves contributing to maintenance costs, attending meetings, and adhering to established rules to ensure the property's upkeep and functionality. By embracing these duties with diligence and showing respect for fellow owners, you play an active role in maintaining the smooth operation and preserving the value of the community. For guidance on unit titles, body corporates, and your role and responsibilities as a unit title owner, please visit the following link: https://www.unittitles.govt.nz/

Increasing the property value of your body corporate involves strategic planning and collaborative efforts from all members. By implementing these strategies and fostering a collaborative approach within the body corporate, you can enhance the property's appeal, attract quality tenants or buyers, and ultimately increase its overall value. Here are some key steps to elevate your property's worth:  1. Foyers and lifts in high-rise buildings should be kept clean and tidy and smell fresh. Adding a few inexpensive houseplants can make it feel like a very homely and inviting space. Post boxes should not be overflowing and any unwanted junk mail or mail should be quickly disposed of and not left littering the area. 2. Items in communal areas that are broken or obviously worn out should be repaired or removed and discarded (or better yet - recycled). 3. Garden areas should be free from leaf litter and bushes should be trimmed and maintained in the outside common area. 4. By-laws adherence should be managed by the Owners Corporation/Body Corporate and things such as parking rules, animal management (no excrement in common areas), placement of air conditioner external units, patios and other external individual lot additions should be properly enforced with reference to a legal entity. 5. Communal lighting should be in good working order and broken bulbs replaced quickly.

The leaves are changing colour, Ngahuru/Autumn is here! As the days grow shorter and we transition into colder weather, it's essential to begin preparing your property for the coming months ahead to avoid running into potential problems later, protecting your investment to a high standard. To ensure you don’t miss anything, the key is to create a maintenance checklist. Here are just a few tasks to add to your maintenance list: · Service heating systems · Change heat pump filters · Sweep chimneys · Check the smoke alarms · Book a roof inspection · Check trees are not overhanging your property or gutters · Clear your gutters · Pest proof your property (particularly for rats and mice) Need help? Did you know that we can help organise your property maintenance or provide personalized suggestions based on your property? Give us a call today to find out more on 04-970-5435.

Outbreaks of mould in a property can occur due to various factors in poorly ventilated, wet, or damp environment, and it's important to address the underlying causes to prevent mould growth. Common causes of mould outbreaks include: 1. Water seepage or leaks leading to moisture collecting on walls, ceilings, flooring and other body corporate property fixtures and fittings. 2. Insufficient, or poorly placed, exhaust fans in properties with evaporative air conditioning units. 3. Warm interior temperatures compared to cold exterior temperatures, which can lead to condensation forming on walls and windows. 4. Condensation on bathroom walls and ceilings caused by hot showers on cold mornings, particularly when an exhaust fan is not used. 5. Windows being closed during the day while occupants are out, leading to a build-up in humidity within the property. 6. Wet and dirty clothing and shoes stored in closed wardrobes or closets. 7. Use of gas heating without proper ventilation, causing an accumulation of excess moisture. 8. Insufficient natural UV light to prevent mould growth. To prevent and address mould outbreaks, it's crucial to address any water leaks promptly, maintain proper ventilation, control humidity levels, and ensure effective drainage around the property.  Regular inspections and maintenance can help identify and mitigate conditions that foster mould growth. If mould is already present, professional remediation may be necessary to address the issue effectively.

Body Corporate Committee meetings aren’t something that occur every week, and therefore, you want to get the most out of your meetings.  At CBCS, we are experts in organising and running effective Body Corporate Committee Meetings. Whether you need us to chair the meeting or serve as a mediator, our goal is to ensure that everyone’s voice is heard in a fair and safe environment. Utilising our expertise will alleviate some stress from committee members and will allow for meetings to be run effectively, ensuring matters are addressed appropriately and outcomes are achieved. The team at CBCS has put together these tips below to help you get the most efficient and effective results out of your meetings. 1. Arrive and start on time: While it seems obvious, starting a meeting on time sets the meeting off on the right foot and sets the tone that the committee is organised. Given most Body Corporate committee meetings are held after hours no one really wants to be at a meeting longer than they have to be. 2. Do your homework: Coming to a meeting prepared will help you, as a property owner, keep up with what is going on. If there are items you would like addressed submit them well before the next meeting so they can be added to the agenda. Similarly, once you have received the meeting’s agenda, if there are items related to issues on common property that you are not familiar with inspect the area prior to the meeting so you are aware of what the problems are. 3. Follow the meeting’s agenda: This seemingly simple task can be a struggle for many. It is the chairperson’s responsibility to keep the meeting on track, however, those attending can assist by raising concerns succinctly and adhering to the speaking time limit that may have been set out by the chairperson.

View our March 2024 The BC Noticeboard - Quarterly Newsletter - Welcome 2024 - Introducing Dakota Scott and Gaurav Godara - Important Notices & Reminders - New Resource Coming Soon: AGM Guidebook - How to Improve Your Body Corporate Property's Security - Preparing Your Unit for the Autumn Weather Ahead - Stay Connected: Get weekly updates on our Facebook page! https://public2.bomamarketing.com/email/NmWx

Each member contributes significantly to the effective operation of the body corporate. Your attendance at meetings is appreciated, so it's important to attend meetings when at all possible. If you are unable to attend a meeting, you can nominate and be represented by another person, or vote by post, to ensure your voice is still heard.

Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) are two different types of meetings held by the members or owners of the property. Here are the key differences between AGMs and EGMs: An AGM (Annual General Meeting) is a meeting of all of the members of the body corporate, called in accordance with the requirements of the Unit Titles Act. A body corporate must have at least one Annual General Meeting a year. The members meet annually to elect a Body Corporate Chairperson and also a Committee who are in charge of the body corporate between General Meetings. An EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) is any General Meeting of the body corporate other than the AGM. When certain types of major issues crop up, an EGM may be called so everyone has a chance to get together and make a decision.