New watchdog on the block
The rapid growth of apartment living has given rise to a new watchdog group, set up to give owners and body corporate managers a louder voice.
SCANZ, or Strata Community Association New Zealand, is an offshoot of an Australian organisation.
SCANZ president and property manager Joanne Barreto, said the estimated $40 billion body corporate sector in New Zealand would only grow bigger and tighter rules were needed.
She acknowledged body corporate managers had acquired a dodgy reputation from cases of theft, or mismanagement of body corporate funds.
‘‘When you have no professional benchmark for individuals and companies in a sector like property, things can go rogue dramatically and that’s what we’re aiming to change through proposed reforms.’’
Barreto is working alongside Auckland MP Nikki Kaye and her Better Bodies Corporate initiative, which has led to a review of the sixyear-old Unit Titles Act.
She said SCANZ would represent ‘‘anything that’s multi-unit, so it’s not just residential, it’s residential and commercial’’. That included retirement villages, although they were usually under single ownership.
Beyond regulating industry behaviour, Barreto says the group felt more education for property professionals was needed, and would lead by example, offering training in key areas such as accounts and property maintenance.
It was preparing to roll out the first accreditation course for body corporate managers and hoped government heavyweights would get in behind it.
‘‘We see scope for programmes like this and others we have in mind being supported as a mandatory entrance step by government.
‘‘Apartments and units are the future of New Zealand property and we’re adamant that amidst major development growth there’s an opportunity to open up a major employment pathway.’’
Neil Cooper, who heads the Body Corporate Chairs Group, said he welcomed SCANZ, although it appeared body corporates could not join, just individual property professionals and apartment owners.
‘‘One of the big issues is some of the unethical activities by body corporate managers . . . so we support any group that works to improve the standards.’’
SCANZ says the Government’s proposed reforms centres on three things: A Better disclosure rules so people understand body corporates better before they buy A Accessible dispute resolution processes (largely handled at present by the Tenancy Tribunal) A Body corporate managers’ role and legal obligations.