QLD: Q&A Body corporate cost recovery process

This article addresses the cost recovery process for a body corporate when an owner refusing access for essential maintenance.

Question: An owner refused access to have his fire door/front door fixed. Who bears the cost of the contractor coming back to complete the work? The owner or the body corporate?

Answer: Their is a cost recovery process the body corporate could pursue.

The body corporate would have to pay the initial cost for the contractor to attend. It would probably look to pursue the owner to recover the costs if the reason for not providing access was simple refusal of access. Technically, you might need to do this through QCAT, the cost recovery process could include issuing the owner an invoice and asking them to pay. If they refuse, the body corporate could engage a lawyer to recover the outstanding costs and the lawyer’s fees. Advising the owner of this may bring the issue into focus.

William Marquand
Tower Body Corporate
E: willmarquand@towerbodycorporate.com.au
P: 07 5609 4924

This post appears in the April 2025 edition of The QLD Strata Magazine.

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