Consumer Information > Why Use a Member

How you can benefit from the specialist skills and high standards of qualified owners corporation management professionals

The Voice of the Owners corporation Industry
OCV is the pre-eminent professional association for the owners corporation industry, and was formed in 1990 to provide a forum for improved standards and education in the industry.

Supporting more than 80% of all owners corporation management firms it is the only organisation solely focussed upon representing this increasingly significant industry, and reaches and represents 300 body corporate professionals who manage approximately 250,000 lots.

OCV is an affiliate member of the National Community Titles Institute, which represents practitioners throughout Australia. The NCTI has formal links with the Community Associations Institute of the USA.

Ethical Business Practice
Not all owners corporation managers are members of Owners Corporations Victoria Inc. Only professional owners corporation managers who meet the strict requirements laid down by OCV are eligible for membership. Central to the prerequisites of membership is acceptance and adherence of OCV's Code of Professional Conduct. The Code of Professional Conduct sets a high standard for practice, over and above the requirements of legislation.

Training
OCV encourages the education of owners corporation managers and their employees, and provides facilities through which owners corporation managers receive training. OCV offers courses and workshops covering every aspect of owners corporation practice, and organises seminars and conferences on matters impacting the industry.

Representation of the Profession
OCV is active in representing its membership and their clients in government and commercial circles. OCV monitors all matters affecting the owners corporation industry. Through the OCV’s newsletter, OCV members are kept abreast of proposed changes to legislation and other essential industry or market facts which may influence the business and investment decisions of their clients.

Finding a manager for your owners corporation
There are many firms offering owners corporation management services but not all have a demonstrated commitment to professional excellence and ethical behaviour. However, it’s easy to identify these firms – simply ask if they have a membership certificate issued by Owners Corporations Victoria Inc. Membership is awarded by OCV to companies that meet rigorous membership standards and satisfies other criteria which include maintaining a prescribed level of professional indemnity insurance, a commitment to staff training and compliance with the OCV Code of Professional Conduct.

The logo shown here can be used to identify a body corporate management firm that is a member.

A list of owners corporation management firms that meet the requirements to be awarded membership can be viewed from the owners corporation managers directory.

When dealing with a owners corporation management firm, ask if they are a member of OCV or look for the logo.

Consumer Protection
Assistance to the general public is available during normal business hours, Monday to Friday.

Written complaints are handled by the General Manager, and heard by an expert Ethics & Complaints Sub-Committee. If any member shall wilfully refuse or neglect to comply with the provisions of the Constitution, Code of Professional Conduct, or shall be guilty of any conduct unbecoming of a member, and any other guideline or standard formally approved and adopted by OCV, Owners Corporations Victoria has the disciplinary power to censure, fine, suspend or expel the member from OCV.

All members of OCV are required within its membership guidelines to take out and maintain Professional Indemnity insurance. Dealing with an OCV member means you have the added safeguard of being represented byan owners corporation manager who has full indemnity coverage.

As an additional consumer protection all membership applications are subject to character, professional and police checks.

OCV is constantly monitoring and improving its level of products and services. Through this on-going development, OCV continues to play a leading role for owners corporation managers and consumers alike.

You will benefit by dealing with an OCV member.

Protecting & Managing Assets
The size, complexity and value of owners corporation properties are escalating – along with their management issues and challenges.

A professional owners corporation manager can help property owners meet these challenges and ensure the valuable assets of Victorians are:

• Well managed
• Well maintained
• Appropriately insured

A growing sector: about the owners corporation industry in Victoria
Changing lifestyle choices of Victorians and demographic shifts have led to rapid growth in higher density dwellings and the strata industry. With over 65,000 Owners Corporations in Victoria and about 1,000,000 Victorians or 1 in 4 people living in or affected byOwners Corporations, they comprise residential properties ranging from 2 units in a suburban street to many hundreds of units in an urban tower block. Owners Corporations also encompass commercial, retail, lifestyle resorts, retirement villages, car parks, storage facilities, industrial and, increasingly, mixed developments comprising more than form of development.

It's all in/after a name