Body corporate debt could exclude your say

The legislation says “If the owner of a lot owes a body corporate debt at the time of the meeting, he or she does not have the right to exercise a vote for a particular lot unless the motion requires a resolution without dissent (SM. S84)”.

A recent adjudicators order by the Body Corporate Commissioners Office found that even if a lot owner owes $0.01 as a debt to the body corporate, they are not permitted to vote at a general meeting.

Whilst the adjudicator considered it “harsh for someone to be deprived of their vote just because they unwittingly underpaid their levies by a tiny amount” they ruled that there is no discretion to allow a vote to be counted when a body corporate debt is owing.

Legislation also does not require the committee to contact owners to let them know of any arrears prior to a vote which means that even a slight error in your financial calculations can have the consequence of your vote being dismissed entirely.

Because of this, owners should always round up (not down) when paying the levy amount. It is also worthwhile to check with the executive committee prior to any major meetings to ensure your finances are in order and you do not have any minor debts that could get in the way.

If you own a unit, make sure your vote counts by staying on top of your finances, ensuring everything is paid on time and you are up to date.

If you want to check out the adjudicator’s order in the case where $0.01 debt to the body corporate lost one owner the right to vote, click here.

My advice for anyone who is a voting committee member:

•    Always round up when calculating your finances to avoid accidentally ending up in arrears

•    Confirm your finances prior to any meetings and double-check with the committee that you do not owe any money to the body corporate

•    Check the dates of your payments closely to make sure the money is paid on time.