Strata and Body Corporate Building Maintenance Checklist

In Queensland, body corporates are legally responsible for maintaining common property. Body corporates and strata owners that fail to keep up with repairs open themselves up to litigation and fines. Poor maintenance can also lead to expensive emergency repairs that disrupt your tenants.

Queensland legislation defines common property as all the areas of a strata building that are not included in an individual’s lot. But with such a broad definition, it is difficult to know exactly what repairs and maintenance strata and body corporates should plan for.

In this article, we share a checklist for what your building maintenance plan should include. But first, let’s explore Queensland’s two different strata schemes and how they impact maintenance responsibilities.

Why Different Stratas Require Different Maintenance Plans

Stratas in Queensland are categorised as either a standard format plan or a building format plan. While these sound similar, each strata scheme assigns different levels of maintenance responsibility to owners and body corporates.

Standard format plan maintenance

A standard format plan (SFP) generally consists of owner lots and an area of common property, such as townhouse complexes or a gated community. These plans place more maintenance responsibility on the shoulders of lot owners. For example, lot owners are responsible for roof repairs if that roof falls within the boundaries of their lot.

Building format plan maintenance

Under building format plans (BFP), body corporates have more maintenance responsibilities. For example, body corporates under BFP must maintain building foundations and roofing, even if they don’t fall under the common property. Common BFP properties include apartment buildings.

Strata and Body Corporate Maintenance Checklist

Regardless of your strata type, your maintenance plan should account for the following:

1. Building exteriors

• Inspect paint coatings for peeling or mould
• Ensure there are no building cracks — check out our article on repairing building cracks
• Assess doors, windows and frames
• Determine the condition of your gutters, air vents and pipes

2. Interior structure

• Look for water damage — if found, then repair both the cause of the water damage and the effect
• Assess all rooms for mould
• Determine paint conditions
• Ensure there are no cracks in the walls, floors or ceilings

3. Common areas

• Look for damage in roads, pathways and paving
• Ensure that shared areas like pools, tennis courts and barbecue areas are safe and kept in a good condition
• Inspect common areas for insects or rodents
• Assess the condition of fences and walls
• Check the water drainage system

4. Plumbing

• Assess drainage, pipes and sewerage for damage or blockages
• Inspect geysers and ensure hot water systems are performing optimally
• Check all tubs, sinks, baths and showers for cracks
• Test toilet flushing mechanisms

5. Electrical

• Test smoke alarms, intercom systems, carbon monoxide detectors (if installed)
• Inspect electrical cords and plugs for damage
• Ensure power circuit breakers are in good condition
• Evaluate air conditioning and data or telephone services (if provided)

6. Assets incorporated into the common property

• Inspect common property assets like pool furniture, gardening equipment, and barbecues.
• Finding the Right Strata and Body Corporate Building Maintenance Solution

From sourcing an in-house team to hiring a provider, the ideal maintenance solution should account for all factors provided in the checklist.

To help you explore your options, we’ve written a guide to strata and body corporate building maintenance programs. In it, we discuss:

• Why preventative maintenance programs trump once-off projects

• The pros and cons of outsourcing maintenance vs using an in-house team

• What to know signing with a maintenance provider

Read it here.