Recent storms show why it pays to brush up on body corporate laws

GUEST OBSERVATION

Brisbane tenants and unit owners need to brush up on body corporate rules in the wake of recent storms to avoid being stung with insurance nightmares.

With experts predicting an increase in severe storms this summer, I’m urging all Brisbane unit owners to prepare now. Residents in units and apartments in particular have unique considerations to bear in mind around storm preparedness and insurance claims.

Residents need to think about how the storm’s effect on the body corporate will impact their property, and vice versa for how their actions can affect the body corporate. For example, the placement of a drain in a common area could potentially be a flood hazard to ground floor properties if there is an excessive amount of rain.

Owners should be aware of this type of issue and have an action plan in place to mitigate potential flood damage which could include having a barrier ready to roll out and a plan to move any valuables.

On the flip side, unit owners and tenants need to prepare their property not only to ensure their own safety but also the safety of the building as a whole.

This includes securing balcony furniture and ensuring the property complies with the building’s by-laws. If a unit does not comply it can create unnecessary dangers for the property and the building as a whole.

Navigating the insurance process can be tricky for those in units and apartments. It depends on your scheme’s insurance but most policies will cover the structure of the building including internal fixed cupboards, but will normally exclude cover for carpets and of course your personal belongings.

Some policies may also exclude flood cover unless the body corporate chooses to include it, so be sure to check the policy document of your scheme’s insurance to know what’s covered and what’s not.

Here are some tips for you to consider:

• Prepare your property – secure items on your balcony and ensure your unit complies with the building’s by-laws. If you’re unsure, contact your body corporate.
  
  
• Prepare common areas – clear away any rubbish and ensure all loose items are secured. This includes outdoor furniture, pot plants and plastic pool furniture which can be placed in the pool to avoid it blowing away.
  
  
• Check your insurance policy – be aware that the building’s strata insurance does not cover your belongings in your unit so you will need to have up-to-date contents insurance.
  
  
• Familiarise yourself with your building’s evacuation plan just in case you need to evacuate and ensure you consider pets if necessary.
  
  
• Communicate with your body corporate about your property’s damage and any damage you notice on common property as soon as possible.

Grant Mifsud has more than 12 years’ experience in the strata industry and has been a senior body corporate manager at Archers Body Corporate Management since 2007.

Currently Grant manages a portfolio of clients in the Brisbane region with a focus on providing financial and strata legislation advice. Grant is a practitioner member of Strata Community Australia (SCA).