Important changes to body corporate legislation and Land Sales Act

On 14 November 2023, the Queensland Government passed the Body Corporate and Community Management and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2023 (BCCMOLA Bill).

Significant changes have been made to the several Acts that regulate community titles schemes in Queensland, including the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (Qld) (BCCM Act). 

Changes have also been made to the Land Sales Act 1984 (Qld) (LSA) impacting the operation of sunset clauses in off-the-plan land sale contracts.

When do the new laws commence?

Most parts of the BCCMOLA Bill will commence on a date to be fixed by proclamation. This means a future date to be set by Parliament. 

The changes relating to sunset clauses will commence upon assent, which means they will commence immediately once the Bill receives assent and becomes an Act.

The REIQ will keep Members up to date with when the laws will commence.

Changes to body corporate legislation

Termination of Community Titles Schemes

Where there is less than unanimous support for the termination of a community titles scheme, the changes introduce a new process to facilitate the termination of a scheme for economic reasons provided that specific requirements are met. 

The new process includes:

• preparing a pre-termination report;
• the body corporate at a general meeting deciding whether there are economic reasons for termination passed by majority resolution; and
• the body corporate also passing a termination plan resolution, which requires the body corporate to prepare a termination plan which contains important information for lot owners.

The termination plan must provide for minimum compensation for lot owners as well as compensation for parties with particular contractual interests in the scheme.

After giving lot owners a copy of the termination plan and following a prescribed timeframe, the body corporate may then hold a general meeting to consider a motion for a termination resolution which will only be passed if 75% or more of all lot owners vote for the motion.  

If a lot owner disagrees with the motion, there are consumer protection mechanisms to ensure they can dispute the decision which may involve making an application for an order of a specialist adjudicator or seeking orders from the District Court.

Second-hand smoke in community titles schemes

Body corporates will be permitted to make by-laws that specifically prohibit or restrict the smoking or inhaling of smoking products on the common property of the scheme and on an outdoor area of a lot (but not the inside area of a lot). An outdoor area of a lot includes a balcony, courtyard, patio, and verandah.

Keeping or bringing of animals on a lot or on common property

Body corporate by-laws cannot prohibit the keeping of animals in a scheme, or restrict the number, type or size of animals that may be kept. There are now prescribed requirements that the body corporate must comply with, if a by-law requires an owner or occupier to obtain the body corporate’s permission for keeping of an animal.

These requirements include that the body corporate must not unreasonably withhold approval to keep an animal, the circumstances in which a body corporate may refuse to grant approval for keeping of an animal, and that the body corporate must provide its approval and conditions of approval in writing.

Body corporate towing of vehicles

The law is clarified to establish that nothing in the BCCM Act prevents a body corporate from towing a motor vehicle from the common property for the scheme.

Sunset clauses in 'off the plan' contracts for land - Land Sales Act 1984

The LSA is amended to regulate the use of sunset clauses within contracts for the sale of proposed land (‘off the plan’ contracts). 

Sellers (property developers) will only be permitted to exercise their rights under a sunset clause to terminate an ‘off the plan’ contract with the written consent of the buyer, or under an order of the Supreme Court.

If a seller seeks to terminate a contract under a sunset clause, there is an obligation on buyer to respond and to act reasonably in the circumstances. If the buyer fails to respond to the notice, then it is deemed that they consent to the termination.

These provisions apply retrospectively. They will apply to contracts for the sale of land that was entered into before the commencement of the amendments, but not settled immediately before commencement.  Meaning, they will apply to some existing, unsettled ‘off the plan’ contracts for the sale of land.

REIQ resources

The REIQ has created this Factsheet for members setting out the changes in detail and including best practice advice. 

If you are an REIQ Member and you have queries about how these changes will impact you or your clients, then you can contact the Agency Advisory Service for free advice on 1300 697 347 or ask@reiq.com.au.

Read more from the REIQ: Important changes to property law in Queensland Sellers Disclosure Regime

Or browse our suite of articles here.