Owners corporation managers, building managers, facility managers; how much management does a building really require?
There are a multitude of aspects to running a building. The overseeing of essential services and ensuring ongoing compliance is separate to arranging move ins and move outs for residents, which in turn is completely different to ensuring the owners corporation accounts are all in order.
The owners corporation manager
The owners corporation manager is responsible for the administrative function of the building, assisting the committee as the professional advisers, in the same way a solicitor or accountant can advise a business. The standard Strata Communities Association contract lists the standard services of an OC manager as:
Accounting
- Financial statements
- Levy collections
- Invoice payments
Documentation
- Maintaining the owners corporation register*
- Issuing certificates*
- Routine correspondence
Insurance
- Policy quotes
- Assistance with insurance claims
Meetings
- Convening committee meetings and the AGM*
- Distribution of minutes and notices of meetings
Maintenance
- Coordination of minor maintenance of the property
For additional fees, your owners corporation manager can provide a range of other services, including commissioning third party service providers to provide reports, lodging BAS statements and tax returns, appointing a third party auditor, issuing breach notices and enforcing the rules, and providing general professional advice.
The building manager
The building manager is the on site presence, the 'face' that all residents see regularly. The scope of their responsibilities will depend on their contract, however, the below list is typical of their role.
- Cleaning of common areas
- After hours call-outs
- Security and safety checks
- Waste area servicing
- Occupation health and safety of common area
- Work-safe practices of contractors
- Key distribution
- Landscaping
- Trades person supervision
- Move-in supervision
- Reporting maintenance issues
- Reporting rule breaches
- Reporting damage
The facility manager
The facility manager coordinates all major maintenance on the building and ensures compliance.
- Essential services compliance
- AESMR
- Programmed maintenance
- Electrical repairs
- Plumbing repairs
- Hot water servicing
- Multiple sub-contractors
- Building certification requirements
- Capital works replacement
- Coordinating multiple trades across
a single project if required
Teamwork
The three different managers working closely together with the committee will provide the best outcome for your precinct.