Project Partnering Opportunities

Why is this research important?

Rarely do we have the opportunity to compare and contrast strata and community title schemes that are of similar size with infrastructure, facilities, and management arrangements. This research will analyse data from a representative sample of schemes to determine: the level of legal (governance) compliance, the expenses incurred in relation to core cost attributes, the impact of sinking fund forecasts, funding of capital expenditure (i.e. alignment), and major cost incursions. This analysis will provide insights into: how similar schemes operate, the potential mechanisms or infrastructure that can be implemented to save costs, and the extent to which compliance impacts on scheme cost.

To better understand how strata and community title schemes operate, to compare and contrast similar schemes, to determine the level of legislative (governance) compliance required and how proactive schemes become fiscally responsible.

Why is this research important?

All strata and community title schemes in Australia have a duty to repair and maintain the common property. Given the increased complexity of strata schemes, the costs associated with repairs and maintenance can prevent or delay owners corporations or bodies corporate from actively attending to these issues. In turn, the owners corporation or body corporate may be in breach of their duties, risk the health and safety of residents and exacerbate the issue in need of repair or maintenance (leading to more costly intervention).

This research proposes to explore the reasons why owners corporations and bodies corporate may choose to attend to certain maintenance and repair issues and delay or prevent attending to others. A better understanding of how these decisions are made may assist in developing best practice strategies for owners corporations and bodies corporate.

To evaluate the decision-making process employed by owners corporations and bodies corporate faced with repair and maintenance obligations.

Why is this research important?

When an owners corporation or body corporate needs to manage building defects or repair and maintenance obligations, a number of professionals need to be engaged along the pathway to rectification. How this process is undertaken has not been explored in any research. What is the role of the strata managing agent, the resident / building manager, the project manager, the contractors, the technical specialist, the lawyers? How do owners corporations and bodies corporate navigate this process and ensure that those engaged are providing the correct advice and ensuring the works are compliant.

This research project proposes to explore these issues and identify how owners corporations and bodies corporate navigate this process and the extent reliance and trust play in engaging various professionals.

The outcomes of this research will be used to create a toolkit that assists schemes and managers in identifying who should be engaged, the steps to check credentials, and managing the overall process.

To explore the decision-making processes employed by owners corporations and bodies corporate in managing building rectifications and the level of trust and reliance placed on the various professionals involved in the services supply chain.