MBCM Strata Specialists Hawthorn

MBCM Strata Specialists Hawthorn Your Local Strata Specialists For developers, we help remove the burden of the strata process, tailored to the needs of your development.

By choosing MBCM to help activate your strata community’s Owners Corporation you can be guaranteed a commitment to the highest standard of management along with professional and personalised service. With experience spanning over 32 years, the MBCM Strata Specialists now has 63 franchised offices, covering Greater Melbourne and regional Victoria. For strata communities, MBCM works with you to provide professional support and build an Owners Corporation management solution, supporting each Owners Corporation and every owner. We enjoy working with developers in the early planning stages, and our advice can often highlight any potential strata issues early in the construction process. This helps create harmonious, functional environments and a smooth transition from the developer to the owners.

Before your committee approves the next quote for building works, check three things first.One: does the quote clearly s...
23/09/2026

Before your committee approves the next quote for building works, check three things first.

One: does the quote clearly separate labour, materials and any contingency, or is it one lump figure? A vague quote is harder to compare and harder to query later if costs blow out.

Two: has the contractor confirmed they carry appropriate insurance for the job, particularly public liability? This protects the OC if something goes wrong on common property during the works.

Three: does the approval sit within what the committee is authorised to spend, or does it need to go to a general meeting? Under the Owners Corporations Act 2006, committees have spending limits up to twice the annual budget, and going over them without proper approval can create real problems down the track.

None of this is complicated, but skipping it is how committees end up with disputes, cost blowouts or approvals that get challenged later.

Save this for your next committee meeting.

This is a hypothetical scenario based on situations we commonly see, not a specific Hawthorn client.A new committee took...
16/09/2026

This is a hypothetical scenario based on situations we commonly see, not a specific Hawthorn client.

A new committee took over a self-managed OC and inherited three years of incomplete records. No clear paper trail on approved works. No documentation on why a special levy had been raised the year before. Owners asking questions the committee couldn't answer, through no fault of their own.

This is one of the more common problems we see, and it's rarely caused by bad intentions. It's caused by administration falling through the cracks when volunteers rotate in and out and nobody hands over a complete file.

Getting the records back in order took time: reconstructing approvals, confirming past expenditure, and setting up a system so the next committee wouldn't inherit the same gap.

The lesson isn't "self-management fails." It's that record-keeping needs to survive a change of committee, not depend on any one person remembering where things are.

Send this to someone sitting on an OC committee.

Most owners think the strata manager makes the final call on repairs, budgets and rule changes. We don't.Here's how it a...
09/09/2026

Most owners think the strata manager makes the final call on repairs, budgets and rule changes. We don't.

Here's how it actually works. The manager administers decisions: we organise quotes, manage contracts, keep records, ensure compliance and carry out what's approved. The committee makes the decisions. Under the Owners Corporations Act 2006, the committee holds the authority to approve expenditure within its limits, set rules and act on behalf of all owners.

This distinction matters more than people think. When a committee assumes the manager is "handling it" without realising a decision still needs their approval, things stall. When a manager is expected to make judgement calls that are actually the committee's to make, that's a liability issue for everyone.

Knowing where the line sits means decisions move faster and nobody is left guessing who's responsible for what.

Save this for your next committee meeting.

That small roof leak your committee keeps postponing isn't staying small. It's compounding.Spring is when minor maintena...
03/09/2026

That small roof leak your committee keeps postponing isn't staying small. It's compounding.

Spring is when minor maintenance issues from winter start to show themselves properly; damp patches, gutter overflow, garden drainage that never quite worked. On their own, these look like small jobs. Left through another season, they tend to become expensive ones, and expensive ones tend to become special levies.

This is where timing matters more than the maintenance itself. A committee that addresses a leak in September is choosing a tradesperson on their own terms. A committee that addresses it in January, after water damage has spread, is choosing whoever's available and paying accordingly.

Part of what a good committee does is flag these issues early and keep a maintenance schedule that doesn't rely on someone noticing a stain on the ceiling. It's a small, unglamorous job, but it's the difference between a $400 repair and a $4,000 one.

If your building has a maintenance item that's been "on the list" for a while, spring is a good time to actually get to it.

Is there a maintenance job your building keeps putting off? Tell me in the comments."

If you have been thinking about whether MBCM Hawthorn could be the right fit for your building, now is a great time to r...
19/08/2026

If you have been thinking about whether MBCM Hawthorn could be the right fit for your building, now is a great time to reach out.

We offer a free, no obligation initial consultation for all new enquiries. We will review your current strata arrangements, ask the right questions and give you an honest picture of where things stand.

No hard sell. Just a straight conversation.

For a free, no obligation, consultation, please call (03) 7052 9166 or e-mail [email protected] and we will be more than happy to talk with you

MBCM Strata Specialists has been managing Owners Corporations across Australia for decades. The Hawthorn branch brings t...
12/08/2026

MBCM Strata Specialists has been managing Owners Corporations across Australia for decades. The Hawthorn branch brings that experience right to your building.

When you choose a strata manager you are not just choosing an individual. You are choosing the systems, the knowledge base and the network behind them.

MBCM Strata Specialists is one of Australia's most established strata management networks. Every branch operates with the support of shared systems, peer expertise and a national team that has seen virtually every scenario a strata building can face.

For lot owners and OC committees in Hawthorn that means you get the personal attention of a dedicated local manager combined with the depth of a national organisation.

Isaac Tait brings his own extensive international and local experience to that framework.

It is a combination that is genuinely difficult to match.

For a free, no obligation, consultation, please call (03) 7052 9166 or e-mail [email protected] and we will be more than happy to talk with you

Three things your OC committee should be reviewing every single year. Most committees skip at least one of them.Annual r...
05/08/2026

Three things your OC committee should be reviewing every single year. Most committees skip at least one of them.

Annual reviews that genuinely protect your building and everyone's investment in it.

First, your insurance coverage and valuatiions. Building insurance needs to reflect current replacement value. Underinsurance is one of the most common and costly mistakes Owners Corporations make.

Second, your maintenance schedule. Preventative maintenance costs a fraction of reactive repairs. A proactive manager keeps a rolling schedule so nothing falls through the cracks.

Third, your by-laws. Hawthorn has a lot of older strata complexes with by-laws that have not been reviewed in years. Outdated by-laws create ambiguity and disputes.

If your current manager is not prompting these reviews, that is worth noting.

At MBCM Hawthorn we treat these as standard practice.

For a free, no obligation, consultation, please call (03) 7052 9166 or e-mail [email protected] and we will be more than happy to talk with you

Now that the end of financial year has passed, it’s a good time for Owners Corporation committees to review where things...
29/07/2026

Now that the end of financial year has passed, it’s a good time for Owners Corporation committees to review where things stand.

Are your levies set at a level that reflects what the building genuinely needs over the next 12 months?

Is the maintenance fund being built up appropriately for future works?

Are there outstanding maintenance items that need to be budgeted for?

Is your current strata manager giving you the financial transparency needed to make confident decisions?

These are the types of questions a good strata manager should be helping you answer — not just once a year, but throughout the year.

At MBCM Strata Specialists Hawthorn, we support Owners Corporations with clear reporting, practical guidance and proactive financial oversight.

If your current manager is not giving you that level of clarity, it may be time for a conversation.

For a free, no-obligation consultation, please call (03) 7052 9166 or email [email protected]. We’ll be happy to talk with you.

Not every strata issue needs a lawyer or a formal complaint. Most of them just need a manager who picks up the phone.Dis...
22/07/2026

Not every strata issue needs a lawyer or a formal complaint. Most of them just need a manager who picks up the phone.

Disputes between lot owners are more common than people expect. Noise. Parking. Common area usage. Renovations. Pet policies.

When they are handled badly they escalate. When they are handled well they get resolved.

At MBCM Hawthorn we approach disputes with the same clarity we bring to everything else. Understand the by-laws. Communicate with both parties. Apply the rules fairly.

Most issues can be resolved at the committee level without formal intervention. But when escalation is needed, we know exactly how to navigate it.

If your building has an ongoing issue that is not being managed, we are happy to have a confidential conversation about your options.

For a free, no obligation, consultation, please call (03) 7052 9166 or e-mail [email protected] and we will be more than happy to talk with you

"our building's sinking fund could be the most important number you have never looked at.Most lot owners know about thei...
15/07/2026

"our building's sinking fund could be the most important number you have never looked at.

Most lot owners know about their quarterly levies. Very few understand what the sinking fund is and why it matters enormously to the long term value of their investment.

Here is a quick explainer.

A sinking fund is a reserve account that your Owners Corporation builds up over time to cover major capital works. Think roof replacement. Lift upgrades. External painting. Structural repairs. Major sewer works.

If the fund is underfunded (or worse, not existing) when a major expense hits, the committee has two options. A special levy that catches lot owners off-guard. Or deferred maintenance that slowly damages the building and the value of every lot in it.

A well run OC plans ahead. A good strata manager ensures the sinking fund strategy reflects what the building actually needs.

When did you last ask yours for a sinking fund report?

For a free, no obligation, consultation, please call (03) 7052 9166 or e-mail [email protected] and we will be more than happy to talk with you

Address

22 Church Street, Hawthorn
Kew, VIC
3122

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+61398342188

Website

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