A body corporate is the collective of all unit title owners in a development. What it manages, how levies work, and what to check before buying.
A body corporate is the legal entity made up of all the unit title owners in a development, responsible for managing and maintaining the common property, insuring the building, and setting the levies that fund that work.
Common areas — foyers, lifts, driveways, gardens, roofs and exterior walls in most cases — plus building insurance for the whole structure, and a long-term maintenance plan looking at least ten years ahead.
Day-to-day administration is usually run by an elected committee, often with a professional body corporate manager engaged.
Levies are charged to each owner, usually in proportion to their unit's ownership interest. They typically cover an operating fund for routine costs and a long-term maintenance fund for major works.
Special levies can be struck for unbudgeted major work — reclad, roof replacement, seismic strengthening. These can be very large and are a genuine risk to an investment case.
You cannot opt out. Membership is automatic with unit title ownership, and levies are a legal obligation, not a service you can decline.
The body corporate's insurance may not cover your contents or your chattels. Check what the policy actually covers before assuming you're insured.
Last reviewed: 1 August 2026 · ---
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