Forms, guides and straight answers.

When land is subdivided with common property, such as driveways, foyers, gardens or lifts, every lot owner automatically becomes a member of the owners corporation. It manages, maintains and insures the common property, and makes decisions at general meetings or through its committee.

Day-to-day running costs such as insurance, cleaning, gardening, repairs, utilities for common areas and management. Many owners corporations also save in a maintenance fund for long-term works such as painting or roof repairs. Your share is usually set by your lot liability, shown on the plan of subdivision.

Committee members are elected at each annual general meeting. Any owner, or an owner's proxy, can nominate. Use the committee nomination form above, or nominate at the meeting. Owners corporations with more than 12 lots must have a committee; smaller ones can choose to.

You can appoint a proxy to attend and vote for you using the proxy form above. There are limits on how many owners one person can act for, so check that your proxy can vote on your behalf.

If the work affects common property, or anything your owners corporation rules restrict, you'll need approval first. Check your rules and talk to us before you start. We'll tell you what the committee needs to see.

Contact us as early as you can. You can ask for a payment plan or an extension using the payment request form above. Interest can apply to overdue fees, so it's always better to talk to us sooner rather than later.

Start with your managing agent or landlord, who can raise building matters with us. For an urgent building issue after hours, such as a flood or a security failure, call 1300 735 929.

The manager's details appear on levy notices, meeting notices and minutes, and owners corporations must display their contact details at the property. If you're not sure whether we manage your building, call us.

Raise it with us or the committee first. Your owners corporation has a dispute process under its rules and the Owners Corporations Act. If that doesn't resolve it, the Dispute Settlement Centre of Victoria offers free mediation, and VCAT can hear owners corporation disputes.