A list compiled by Auckland Body Corporate of terms and commonly asked questions by Body Corporate owners.
• Financial statements
• Maintenance of the common property
• Insurance
• Budgets
• Long term maintenance plan
• Election of Chairperson and Committee
• Building manager report
The Chairperson must call the AGM in accordance with the UTA 2010 Regulations. Click here for more
That utility interest is then used to calculate the share of levies paid. If a separate utility interest is not set by the body corporate, then the utility interest is the same as the ownership interest for the unit.
The body corporate may access any unit to carry out repairs and maintenance to common property, or to building elements and infrastructure which serve more than one unit. Access to units must be at reasonable times.
1. Pre-Contract Disclosure Statement, which the seller provides to any potential purchaser before entering into an agreement for sale and purchase
2. Pre-Settlement Disclosure Statement, which the seller provides the purchaser after entering into an agreement for sale and purchase but before settlement of the sale
3. Additional Disclosure Statement, which the purchaser may request from the vendor at the purchaser’s cost
It is compulsory for a vendor to provide both the Pre-Contract Disclosure Statement and Pre-Settlement Disclosure Statement.
WHAT DOES THE LAW SAY:
A Body Corporate has a statutory duty to maintain insurance cover.
The Unit Titles Act, Section 136(1), requires a Body Corporate to “Insure and keep insured all buildings and other improvements on the land to their full insurable value”. Know more…..
The act allows for disputes to be heard in the Tenancy Tribunal, providing the amount claimed is not in excess $50,000.
Set yourself up for safer shopping
Keep software and anti-virus protection up to date
Up-to-date systems are less likely to be taken advantage of by scammers.
Keep up to date with your updates(external link) — CERT NZ
Use strong, unique passwords
A combination of upper case, lower case, numbers and special characters is best. Don’t use personal information in passwords. Many people use the same password for all accounts, or a few different ones over and over. If an attacker gets one of your passwords, it’s likely they may have access to any other accounts that share it.
Check your bank statements or account activity
It’s good to keep an eye on your bank or credit card statements for unusual activity. If you think you’ve been scammed by a fake website and can’t contact the business, report it to CERT NZ.
Report an issue(external link) — CERT NZ
It’s important to be suspicious because scammers have ways of making their offers seem real. If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is. Learn to see the tell-tale signs of scams.
Privacy issues
When you browse online, retailers can collect personal information without you knowing by using cookies. This can happen even if you don’t buy anything. The website’s privacy policy should tell you what information might be stored and why.
Protecting your privacy online(external link) — CERT NZ
Pause before you pay
To shop safely online you need to know the seller is who they say they are, and can keep your personal and credit card details secure.
Take a moment. Ask yourself:
Does the website look genuine?
Bad spelling and grammar, or a URL that doesn’t seem to match what‘s being sold, can indicate a website is not genuine, e.g., if bobandjanesportinggoodsshop.co.nz was selling high heeled shoes. Stop and do some research if a website you want to shop through seems suspicious.
Is the site secure?
Make sure any website asking for your information has a padlock symbol next to the URL in your browser. This means the connection is encrypted and no one else can copy the information you provide.
The website address should start with ‘https’, not ‘http’. Https means the site has an SSL certificate, a protocol to keep data secure as it is passed from your browser to the website’s server. Don’t share information through sites with an address beginning ‘http’.
It is a trusted payment system?
Use trusted payment systems, like PayPal. Avoid supplying payment details in an email.
What do customer reviews say?
If you’re using a website you haven’t used before, look for reviews to see if they have any negative feedback. Feedback might not always be genuine, but looking through customer reviews can give you a sense of whether an online store is the real thing and will deliver what you pay for.
See CERT NZ for more tips to help keep your personal information safe and secure online.
Shopping online safely(external link) — CERT NZ
Getting started with cyber security(external link) — CERT NZ
• a trader in New Zealand
• an overseas trader
• a private seller on an online auction site, e.g. Trade Me or eBay.
Check the terms and conditions before you buy online, including returns, delivery and warranties.
If you buy from a private seller, e.g. an individual on Trade Me, the Consumer Guarantees Act and Fair Trading Act don’t apply. You have the same rights as if it was an in-person private sale.
Check it’s a New Zealand business.
A website with ‘.nz’ at the end isn’t always a New Zealand business. So, if it looks local but feels funny, check first if a company is registered to sell products in New Zealand.
Registered companies(external link) — New Zealand Companies Register
for their New Zealand Business Number (NZBN).
Search for a business(external link) — New Zealand Business Number