In October 2021, Aaron contacted us about his building in Brighton, where the Brighton Owners Corporation was relatively new and had one of those not-so-far OC management companies appointed by the builder/developer.
Both the OC and its OC Committee had no say on who the owners corporation management company would be, as it was all done and signed before the owners had settled on their apartments.
In recent years, the OC Committee had growing concerns, as their OC Manager was lacking in communication and responsiveness, always very slow to respond to tasks, and (in their words) generally incompetent.
Key Takeaways:
- The Brighton OC, locked into a builder-appointed manager, experienced poor service and constant delays, which prompted them to seek a more capable and committed manager.
- Through a targeted tender process, the Committee was able to clearly compare proposals and select a manager that genuinely aligned with their needs.
- The change not only improved service quality and slightly reduced costs but also underscored the importance of avoiding hidden fees in open-ended contracts.
Guide for changing Brighton Owners Corporation Managers
We met with the Brighton Owners Corporate Committee to understand their concerns with the incumbent body corporate manager and discuss what they would expect of their new manager.
After compiling an RFT with information and specifications particular to their building, we conducted a tender process. We met again with the Committee and helped them understand all the new OC management proposals in terms of their offerings, qualities, and costs.
For more information, read our guide about the process of changing body corporate management.
Brighton Owners Corporation cost comparison
Below is the cost comparison of the old and new Brighton OC management companies:
OLD OC MANAGEMENT CO. VS NEW OC MANAGEMENT CO.
| Cost Comparison | Previous OC Management Company |
New OC Management Company |
|---|---|---|
| Management Fees | $15,000 | $15,990 |
| Disbursement | $1,050 | $0 |
| Software, Work Orders + Misc. | $0 | $0 |
| Other Additional Charges | $0 | $0 |
| Total Strata Management Costs | $16,050 | $15,990 |
OC guidance for all Committees: be careful when it comes to OC management contracts and ‘open-ended, blank cheque’ disbursements sections. Some of these companies charge for every work order, phone call, email, page of paper, printing, postage, envelope, etc.
The vast majority of owners corporation management companies that we work with charge a fixed, all-inclusive fee for their disbursement costs. Of these organisations, most will waive their disbursement fee if lot owners elect to receive OC notices electronically.
We guide the owners corporation in changing and appointing a better OC management company, helping them save a significant amount on their management costs.
Qualified OC Management companies
Change Body Corporate guides the OC when it comes to changing management companies. Every single OC management company (Victoria) we work with is carefully vetted and scrutinised in terms of their:
- OC guidance and management experience
- Service and service metrics
- Integrity & values
- Dedicated strata software platform, systems, and processes
- On-going knowledge and training
Thinking about changing strata management companies?
Like the Brighton Owners Corporation, you can also achieve the changes you want in your OC. You do not need to deal with OC managers who don’t prioritise your properties’ wellness.
If you do not know where to begin, Change Body Corporate can help and guide you throughout the process.
