In today’s property market, delivering a successful development is about far more than strong design, construction quality and sales velocity. Increasingly, a project’s long-term success — and a developer’s reputation — is shaped by how well the body corporate is designed, disclosed, established and transitioned.
Yet for many developers, body corporate considerations still sit too late in the process. They are often treated as an administrative necessity rather than a strategic asset. The result can be avoidable risk, strained buyer relationships, escalating levies, governance issues and, in some cases, damage to the developer’s brand long after settlement has occurred.
This is precisely where a specialist body corporate consultant becomes essential.
At SSKB Developer Consultancy Team (DCT), we work alongside developers from the earliest planning stages through to settlement and beyond. Our role is to ensure the body corporate is not simply compliant, but commercially sound, operationally efficient and aligned with the long-term success of the development.
This article explores why engaging a body corporate consultant early is no longer optional — and how it can protect your project, your purchasers and your reputation.
The Body Corporate: More Than a Legal Requirement
A body corporate (also known as an owners corporation in some jurisdictions) is created whenever land is subdivided to include shared or common property. This applies to apartment buildings, townhouses, mixed-use precincts, industrial subdivisions and increasingly complex master-planned communities.
From the moment it is created, the body corporate becomes the legal entity responsible for:
- Managing and maintaining common property
- Setting and collecting levies
- Insuring the building and shared assets
- Enforcing by-laws
- Entering into service and management agreements
- Making governance decisions that impact every owner
In practical terms, the body corporate is the framework that determines how the community will function — financially, operationally and culturally — for decades.
For developers, this means one critical thing:
the decisions made before the body corporate exists will shape the lived experience of buyers long after you exit the project.
Why Developers Face Increasing Body Corporate Risk
The regulatory and commercial environment for strata developments has evolved significantly over the past decade. Buyers are more informed, financiers are more cautious, and regulators are far less forgiving of disclosure errors or poor governance structures.
Some of the most common risks developers face include:
1. Inadequate or Misleading Disclosure
Budgets that technically comply with legislation but understate realistic operating costs often lead to sharp levy increases in the first few years. This can result in disgruntled owners, negative publicity and reputational damage.
2. Poor Titling and Governance Structures
Incorrect titling decisions can lead to inequitable cost sharing, unclear maintenance responsibilities and ongoing disputes between owners or subsidiary schemes.
3. Unbalanced Management Rights or Service Agreements
Poorly structured caretaking or letting agreements may maximise short-term sale value but create long-term friction for the body corporate and future owners.
4. Settlement Delays
Missing documentation, incorrect records or non-compliant processes can delay settlements, affecting cash flow and buyer confidence.
5. Brand Impact Beyond Completion
In an era of online reviews and connected communities, a poorly functioning body corporate reflects back on the developer — even years after handover.
A body corporate consultant exists to identify and mitigate these risks before they become embedded in the project.
The Strategic Value of Early Body Corporate Advice
Engaging a specialist consultant early — ideally during concept design — allows body corporate considerations to be integrated into the project, rather than retrofitted later.
At this stage, a consultant can assist with:
- Selecting the most appropriate titling structure
- Designing common property that is functional, efficient and commercially sensible
- Identifying opportunities to add value through exclusive use areas or smart allocation of space
- Advising on facilities that balance buyer appeal with long-term operating costs
- Planning for utilities, embedded networks and services that support sustainability and affordability
These decisions directly influence buyer appeal, operating costs and the overall marketability of the development.
Compliance is the Minimum — Not the Goal
Many developers assume that if their body corporate documentation meets statutory requirements, their obligations are fulfilled. In reality, compliance is simply the baseline.
Buyers, lenders and regulators increasingly scrutinise whether disclosure reflects the spirit, not just the letter, of the law. Budgets, agreements and governance structures must be reasonable, transparent and defensible.
A body corporate consultant helps ensure that:
- Budgets realistically reflect anticipated costs
- Disclosure documents give buyers a clear understanding of ongoing obligations
- Agreements entered into at establishment are appropriate and balanced
- Financial structures support long-term stability rather than short-term gain
This approach reduces disputes, supports smoother settlements and builds trust with purchasers.
Supporting Off-the-Plan Sales and Buyer Confidence
For off-the-plan developments, the body corporate framework becomes a critical part of the sales narrative.
Agents rely on accurate disclosure to answer buyer questions. Buyers rely on that information to assess affordability and lifestyle. Lenders rely on it when assessing risk.
When body corporate documentation is unclear, inconsistent or overly complex, it introduces friction into the sales process.
By contrast, well-structured disclosure supported by expert advice:
- Reduces buyer uncertainty
- Minimises contract fall-over risk
- Enhances agent confidence
- Supports smoother finance approvals
In competitive markets, this can be a meaningful point of differentiation.
Managing Change During Construction
No development remains static from concept to completion. Market conditions change, designs evolve and regulatory requirements shift.
During construction, developers may need to:
- Reconfigure apartments or lot layouts
- Amend facilities or services
- Adjust budgets or entitlements
- Respond to changes in legislation or approvals
Each of these changes can have flow-on effects for disclosure, budgets and governance.
A body corporate consultant provides continuity through this phase, ensuring changes are properly assessed, documented and — where required — redisclosed, protecting both contracts and compliance.
Reducing Risk at Registration and Settlement
The period around registration and settlement is one of the highest-risk stages for developers.
Key issues include:
- Ensuring insurance is correctly placed at the right time
- Confirming all statutory documents are complete and compliant
- Establishing the body corporate’s records, accounts and governance
- Convening the first extraordinary general meeting
- Supporting settlements by providing accurate certificates and records
Errors or omissions at this stage can delay settlements or, in extreme cases, cause them to fail.
A specialist consultant manages these processes methodically, reducing risk and ensuring a smoother transition from developer control to owner governance.
Protecting Your Legacy Beyond Settlement
For many developers, involvement does not end once the final lot is sold.
Defects management, unsold stock, staged developments and ongoing brand reputation all mean that the early years of a body corporate matter.
Developers who engage early and thoughtfully in the establishment of the body corporate often experience:
- More cooperative defect resolution
- Stronger relationships with owner committees
- Reduced conflict and reputational risk
- A community that reflects positively on the developer’s brand
In an industry where repeat projects and reputation matter, this legacy effect should not be underestimated.
The SSKB Developer Consultancy Difference
SSKB’s Developer Consultancy Team offers a fully integrated, end-to-end approach to body corporate establishment.
Our 7-step framework guides developers through every phase — from discovery and disclosure through to settlement and handover — ensuring that each decision is commercially sound, compliant and future-focused.
We don’t just manage body corporates.
We help design them properly.