Body corp disputes increase on Coast while people are cooped up in isolation

Nosy neighbours stuck inside during coronavirus isolation are behind an uptick in body corporate disputes on the Gold Coast according to a leading expert.

NOSY neighbours stuck inside during coronavirus isolation are behind an uptick in body corporate disputes on the Gold Coast according to a leading expert.

Chris Irons, the state’s former Body Corporate Commissioner, and now a Hynes Legal Strata Adviser, said firms had seen an increase in clients during the unprecedented restrictions, as people spent more time at home noticing “issues” at neighbours’ property or with committees.

“We have noticed an increase here in a number of clients coming to us looking for assistance,” Mr Irons said.

“What is really interesting is there always has been an established relationship with managers of buildings and committees themselves, but now we are seeing a lot of individuals seeking advice on issues.”

Commissioner for Body Corporate and Community management Chris Irons. (AAP image, John Gass)

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Mr Irons believed the jump in issues was down to people spending more time at home, having to adjust to neighbours’ habits while working.

“When it comes to behavioural issues, people are starting to notice things that tick them off a lot more,” he said.

“The most obvious thing is noise. People probably never noticed the noise from the upstairs neighbour, the kids playing in the driveway or the dog barking next door until they started working from home.

“Longer time at home puts you in a different frame of mind, so we are seeing an increase.”

Mr Irons said there had also been a spike in complaints about airconditioning installations, which will only increase in the run-up to Spring, and individuals concerned with the Body Corporate’s financial matters.

“I think people have found the time or are more interested now in giving financial matters more scrutiny,” Mr Irons said.

Storm clouds gather around the high rises of Surfers Paradise, as body corporate battles loom. Picture: Glenn Hampson

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“Whether that is the committee budget, changes to the levy or purchases.

“Tough financial times might have raised the alarm for people, leading them to reflect on costs.

“With airconditioning it is the same.

“Body corporates may be giving locals the OK to install them, but are then dictating where they go, or neighbours might have issue with their placement.”

The former commissioner said he believed the increase in issues would be reflected in arbitration and cases before the BCCM (body corporate community management) commission over the next twelve months.

“The advice is that if people are facing a dispute there are alternatives through non-legal means,” he said.

“Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on lawyers in the first instance, we are now seeing people and body corporates themselves look at dispute resolution.

“A less adversarial way of hashing these issues out with one another.”