Strata terminology can be confusing when you compare apartments or community schemes. Everyday words may have different legal meanings in each jurisdiction, so buyers and owners should check the rules that apply to the property they are considering.
This guide explains the Queensland terms relevant to lot owners and buyers, and outlines where interstate comparisons need careful checking. You can also visit our Strata Dictionary for more plain-English explanations.
What are the different strata terms used in Australia?
In Queensland, a community titles scheme allows you to privately own a lot while sharing common property and facilities with other owners and occupiers. A scheme can include a duplex, townhouse complex, residential unit block, high-rise building, shopping complex or business park.
The individual property might be an apartment, townhouse or another defined area. Shared areas can include driveways, grounds, building structures and other facilities. Before relying on a term used in an interstate listing or contract, confirm what it means under that jurisdiction’s legislation.
What is a body corporate called in each Australian state and territory?
The Queensland term is body corporate. It is a legal entity created when land is subdivided and registered to establish a community titles scheme. All owners become members of the body corporate when they buy their lot.
The body corporate administers common property and body corporate assets for the benefit of all owners. It also carries out functions required by body corporate legislation.
Terminology used in other states and territories should be checked against current official information for the relevant property. Similar words can describe different legal structures, responsibilities or decision-making arrangements.
What are committees and strata managers called across Australia?
In Queensland, the committee is involved in body corporate decision-making at general meetings and through committee processes.
In plain language, a strata manager is a person or company that helps manage an apartment building for the collective owners. The legal title for that role depends on the jurisdiction. In Queensland, the role is called a body corporate manager.
A Queensland body corporate can engage a body corporate manager to provide administrative services. The body corporate is not legally required to have a manager, and the manager’s duties depend on the written engagement.
For more information, see What is a body corporate manager?.
What are levies, administration funds and sinking funds called?
Queensland uses the term owner contributions, commonly referred to as levies. Each lot owner must pay a share of the body corporate’s expenses, with annual levies decided at the annual general meeting.
These contributions typically support expenses such as insurance, gardening, building maintenance, lifts and pools. Check the exact terminology and legal purpose of funds before comparing schemes in different jurisdictions.
Queensland bodies corporate generally have two relevant funds:
- The administrative fund covers regular common property maintenance, insurance and other ongoing administrative costs.
- The sinking fund covers major or one-off items, such as painting, structural repairs and replacing major common property items.
For a broader explanation, read What is a body corporate?.
What is a body corporate certificate called when selling a property?
Sellers and buyers should confirm which information documents are required in the jurisdiction where the property is located. Requirements can differ, and similarly named certificates may not provide identical information.
In Queensland, a seller generally gives the buyer a body corporate certificate, together with the seller disclosure statement and community management statement, before the buyer signs the contract of sale.
The body corporate certificate includes information about the lot, including levies due and registered improvements, as well as information about the body corporate. The body corporate must provide it within 5 days of a written request, unless an additional fee is paid for an available 24-hour service.
The current Queensland forms are referred to as BCCM Forms 33 and 34. Older references to section 205 and section 206 statements should not be treated as the current certificate terminology.
Which Queensland strata terms should buyers and owners know?
When reviewing a Queensland property, keep these terms in mind:
- Community titles scheme: the scheme containing two or more lots and shared common property.
- Body corporate: the legal entity made up of the lot owners.
- Committee: the elected group involved in body corporate decisions.
- Body corporate manager: a person or company engaged to provide agreed administrative services.
- Levies: owner contributions used to meet body corporate expenses.
- Administrative fund: the fund for ongoing maintenance, insurance and administrative costs.
- Sinking fund: the fund for major capital or non-recurrent expenditure.
- Body corporate certificate: a document containing important information for a buyer and seller.
Understanding the Queensland terms helps you ask the right questions, but interstate terms should always be checked against the current rules for that property. If you need help understanding your scheme’s terminology, contact our team at reception@stratacare.com.au.
