Can you confirm that committee members for blocks of flats should be an owner of a flat in the complex

Hello, good morning

While the primary requirement for a committee member of a block of flats is to be an owner of a property in the complex, it is not always a mandatory condition. The specific eligibility criteria can vary based on the governing rules of the body corporate or strata scheme, but in many cases, non-owners can be nominated to join the committee.​

General Requirements
The fundamental prerequisite for joining a body corporate committee is being a lot owner within the scheme. This ensures that committee members have a vested interest in the welfare and effective management of the property. To be eligible, an owner must also be entitled to vote, meaning they are up-to-date with their financial contributions and not in breach of the scheme's by-laws. Committees typically consist of three to seven members who are elected at the annual general meeting (AGM).​

Who Else Can Be a Committee Member?
In many schemes, an owner can nominate another individual for committee membership, which allows for a broader range of potential members. This opens up eligibility to include:​

Non-owners nominated by a lot owner.​

Family members of an owner, such as a spouse, parent, or child over 18 years old.​

A person holding a power of attorney from an individual owner.​

A nominee from a company that owns a lot, such as a director or secretary.​

In some instances, tenants may be eligible if the strata's by-laws permit it.​

Who is Not Eligible?
Certain individuals are typically considered ineligible to join a committee to prevent conflicts of interest and ensure smooth governance. These often include:​

Body corporate managers, building managers, and service contractors, unless they are also lot owners.​

Individuals who owe a debt to the body corporate.​

Agents for leased lots, if they are not the owner of the lot.​

Those with undisclosed connections to the original property owners or building managers.