Switch to Melcorp Strata Today: Restore Your Owners Corporation

If your Owners Corporation is being poorly managed, the consequences go far beyond frustration. Poor communication, delayed maintenance, financial mismanagement, and lack of accountability can cause real harm to your building and its community.

At Melcorp Strata, we specialise in turning around struggling Owners Corporations and transforming them into well-managed, thriving communities. Switching to a proactive and experienced strata manager doesn’t have to be difficult.

We sat down with Gino Marinaro, Business Development Manager and Senior Owners Corporation Manager at Melcorp Strata, to discuss the process of changing strata managers.

Q: Why might someone consider changing their current Owners Corporation Manager (OCM) in the first place?

Gino: That’s a great question. Ultimately, it comes down to whether your current strata manager is meeting the needs and expectations of you and your building. In my experience, some of the most common reasons owners start considering a change include:

• Poor Communication: delayed responses or lack of updates on important matters.
• Neglected Maintenance: unattended repairs or deteriorating common areas which can affect the safety and longevity of your property.
• Financial Mismanagement: unexplained expenditures or lack of transparency in financial reporting.
• Non-Compliance: failure to follow legislative obligations or internal by-laws, which can expose the community to risks and disputes.

If these issues resonate with your experience, it may be time to consider a change.

Q: What is the first step in changing your strata manager?

Gino: It’s all about the timing. The single most important thing you need to know is the expiry date of your current ‘Contract of Appointment’, as it states the notice period required to inform your OCM of any changes. To get a copy of your contract, this is an easy process, just ask your current OCM.

Q: That sounds simple, is that all or is there more involved in the process?

Gino: There are a few more steps to follow. Once you have read through the contract and understood the contract obligations, such as the time to alert your current OCM of the change, you’ll then need to obtain quotes from several strata management providers. This helps to compare value for money and expertise on offer.

Q: Do you have any tips on comparing potential strata providers?

Gino: I’d suggest outlining your objectives by asking yourself the following questions:

• What do you hope to gain with a new strata manager?
• What aspects of your previous manager’s service were satisfactory, and what areas require improvement?
• Are there specific factors related to your building that you’d like to see improve? For example, are maintenance issues resolved in a timely matter or do owners receive poor communications regarding upcoming meetings and processes?

Addressing these points will help you to identify which strata provider is best suited to meet your building’s needs.

Q: Once you’ve considered your building’s priorities and arranged quotes, what is the next step toward switching managers?

Gino: The next step would be to organise a meeting with your Owners Corporation Committee to discuss the options available. Within this meeting, you can cast your vote to appoint Melcorp Strata as your new strata manager. But note that you will need to have more than 50% of the vote in favour to be successful.

Q: And what should the committee do after they’ve voted?

Gino: If Melcorp Strata is successful in being appointed as your new OCM, you will need to provide your new manager with the meeting minutes – you can do so via email.

After that, you can leave the rest with us. Our team will handle the remainder of the process, including letting your current OCM know about the change. We will ensure all aspects of the changeover are managed professionally. Such as setting up new bank accounts, arranging new building plaques, collecting relevant files from the previous OCM, arranging meetings on site with Building Managers, and circulating welcome letters to owners and residents about the new change. This will take place within 10 to 14 business days of making the switch.

And, of course, our team will hold the first committee meeting within 30 days of taking on management of your Owners Corporation.

Q: Lastly, could you specify what the team focuses on when they receive the handover of OC Records? 

 Gino: Some of the main areas that we focus on, but not limited to, are noted as follows:

• Our Chartered Accountants will thoroughly review all financial documentation to ensure that it is fully reconciled, including lot owner details and relevant stakeholders.
• Our accounts team will issue any reminder levy notices and follow up any lot owners in arrears.
• Our support staff will search for and review all service contracts, then prepare contracts register and notify contractors of the changeover.
• Our support team will prepare new templates for the Owners Corporation Certificates, further noting any current legal matters or liabilities specific to the Owners Corporation.
• Our support team will review all meeting minutes to ensure that any outstanding matters are brought to the attention of the Committee and actioned.
• Our support team will prepare a welcome letter for circulation to all lot owners.
• Our support team will prepare a building financial health report, highlighting any missing documentation or areas of concern. Subsequently, our appointed Owners Corporation Manager will arrange a meeting with the Committee to discuss these matters further.

Ready to Make the Change?

If your Owners Corporation isn’t getting the service it deserves, it’s time to act. Switching to Melcorp Strata is straightforward, and the results speak for themselves. We’re here to help restore trust, service, and value to your building.

Contact us today to learn more or receive a complimentary quote and management proposal.