Maintenance surveys Targeting Rentals and body corporate

Maintenance surveys, inspections and reviews - owners corporations

Maintenance surveys and inspections

Every year, your owner’s corporation (formerly body corporate) or its delegate should inspect the common property and must review the maintenance plan. The results will help you determine the next work program and budget, to be presented at the annual general meeting for approval.

Under certain circumstances, an owner’s corporation may have to carry out an occupational health and safety (OH&S) audit on the common property.

At its annual general meeting, an owner’s corporation must report on the:

• maintenance plan
• budget
• proposed contributions to the maintenance fund.

Your owner’s corporation may need specialised professional help to carry out certain aspects of the maintenance plan, such as the:

• inspections
• risk assessment
• maintenance fund forecast
• capital works
• budgeting.

The cost of this specialist advice should be factored in your owners’ corporation budget.

Before the inspection, it is a good idea to survey residents about maintenance issues. This maintenance survey:

• identifies problems affecting residents
• provides extra information about the building
• shows that the owners corporation, committee and delegates are exercising due diligence in carrying out duties, functions and powers 
• encourages communication between the owners corporation, its committee, occupiers and managers, and
• builds awareness of issues and legal responsibilities.

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Keep records of surveys, inspections and maintenance work. Over time, these records may track problems and are a handy reference when setting out your maintenance plan.

A record of maintenance should include:

• a description of the work
• the estimated and actual date of completion
• estimated and actual cost
• contractor details, and
• any warranties.

Use standard criteria or forms for surveys and inspections to make it easier to compare with previous years’ results. It may also help to use the same survey/inspection staff.

Maintenance reviews

Your owner’s corporation should also review and report on whether maintenance was effective.

Even if there is no maintenance plan, an owner’s corporation should still review maintenance at its annual general meeting. A careful review will help you plan for future maintenance.

When reviewing maintenance, consider:

• whether the work was necessary or appropriate
• the cost, timing and standard of work, and
• the time needed for planned maintenance work.