Positive Communication with Owners

 

How can a strata committee better manage interactions with owners? We discuss positive communication strategies for breaking down barriers between committees and owners.

Top 3 Takeaways

Our top 3 takeaways for committees to better manage owner interactions: 

 

Balance ‘people’ with ‘being business like’  

Owners are people and yet a body corporate is akin to running a business. So, strike the balance. Use first names where possible and apt, but also use committee-specific email addresses to establish appropriate distance. Be professional, yet don’t forget any human costs (e.g., especially in very ‘human’  issues such as noise or pets).  

 

Know who you are dealing with  

You can’t manage owners if you don’t know who the owner is. Make sure the roll is up to date. If the registered owner is one part of a couple, be sure to communicate with them, not their partner. Do you have all of your tenant details? Tenancies of more than 6 months must be recorded on the body corporate roll.  

 

Put yourself in the recipient's shoes  

Ask yourself as a committee: would I want to receive this email? This is a good way to ensure you tone, approach and style is appropriate. If you read a draft and you get to the end and think ‘whoa, that’s harsh’ , then so too will owners. That’s your chance to temper it.  

 Useful Links:

Newsletter on committee roles - https://blog.hyneslegal.com.au/news/the-different-body-corporate-committee-roles 

Canvas owners the right way - http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/cases/qld/QBCCMCmr/2009/200.html?context=1;query=admiralty%20towers%202009;mask_path=au/cases/qld/QBCCMCmr 

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Frank Higginson photo

Frank Higginson
Partner & Director @ Hynes Legal

Frank has extensive experience in strata law and is an active participant in the body corporate and management rights industries. He regularly presents at industry events and offers thought leadership on why strata and body corporate disputes need to be resolved in a different way.

 

 

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Chris Irons
Director & Consultant @ Strata Solve

Formerly Queensland's Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community Management, Chris' experience in dealing with strata issues and resolving conflict in body corporate is unmatched. Chris bring unmatched experience to the table as well as a unique perspective on solving issues in strata. Chris now heads up strata consultancy firm Strata Solve.