Ask most people “what is a body corporate?” and, well, you’ll probably get a lot of different answers, the most common being a general wave toward the nearest visible highrise.
But that’s an assumption, and also a clear indication that the person you’re speaking with doesn’t really have much of an idea of what a body corporate actually is.
Which is not a big deal, unless you happen to buy a unit, and then things are likely to become even murkier as you’re introduced to myriad rules and regulations that make up communal living and investing.
One of my main goals with both my website and my business is to educate and inform people about body corporates, about the risks they’re taking, the opportunities they may be missing and of course the realities of life in shared areas. The first step is to understand, clearly if possible, what is a body corporate.
So … What is a body corporate?
A body corporate is an entity to hold common property on behalf of lot owners. It’s also a mechanism for managing that common property.
I’ve put together the slide show below that explains a little history of body corporates, what they are and why it’s important for lot owners.