Buying a unit, townhouse or apartment in Queensland looks straightforward on the surface — but the moment you buy into a community titles scheme, you become a member of the body corporate automatically, with no choice about participating. That means financial obligations, including levies, begin from the date of settlement — and if the previous owner owes outstanding levies, you can be liable for those too.
A body corporate certificate can tell buyers a great deal about the financial health and governance of a scheme — but it does not tell you everything. Under the new seller disclosure regime introduced by the Property Law Act 2023 (Qld), which came into effect on 1 August 2025, sellers of lots in community titles schemes are now legally required to provide buyers with a body corporate certificate before the contract is signed. That is a significant reform — but knowing what the certificate covers, and what it does not, is just as important as receiving it.
The risks that catch buyers off guard are rarely obvious ones. Building defects, upcoming special levies for major works, disputes within the scheme, and the true cost of ongoing maintenance are all things a buyer needs to investigate before committing — not after settlement.
In this episode of the Big Law Podcast, Director Sylvia Lopez unpacks what to look for before you sign, how to spot a body corporate that could cost you money down the track, and how much protection a body corporate certificate actually gives buyers.
Hit play below to listen.
Buying a unit or apartment in Queensland? Make sure you understand what you’re buying into before you sign. The team at Big Law can help you get it right.
