Application for adjudication
You are about to complete an application to ask for an adjudicator’s order. But first, we cover some information you need to know.
Before you apply
Before you start the form, make sure you understand the following information about adjudication. You can read more about these requirements in our practice directions.
Remember you can still try to resolve things with the other party while your application progresses. You can withdraw your application at any time by telling us in writing.
Fees
It will cost you money to apply and fees are generally not refundable.
An order will not be made until an application fee has been received, or a fee waiver application has been approved.
Authority to lodge
If you are applying on behalf of the body corporate or committee, you must prove you have the authority to do so. You can be authorised by committee resolution or at a general meeting. You must give us a full copy of the minutes that include the authorisation.
We must have this document before we can progress this type of application.
Legal requirements
Your application must meet strict legal requirements—under the Body Corporate and Community Management Act 1997 (the Act)—to progress. Make sure you read about the adjudication process before you apply.
If you have not already tried to resolve the dispute yourself or attempted conciliation, you may not be able to apply for adjudication.
Read more about self resolution and matters that are not suitable for conciliation (Practice Direction 9).
Your application will be assigned to a dispute resolution coordinator, who may ask you for more information or to resubmit your application if it does not meet requirements.
Dispute resolution coordinators can’t give you legal advice or tell you how to word your application.
Timeframes
How quickly a matter progresses depends on many factors. As a guide, 75% of adjudication orders in 2023 were made within 19 weeks of lodging. However, your matter could take longer than this.
There can be delays if:
- your application doesn’t meet legislative requirements and needs amending
- your application or attached documentation is complex or unclear
- we are left waiting for information from parties.
Interim orders
Applying for an interim order does not mean your application will be finalised more quickly.
Interim orders are made in limited situations and are only short-term arrangements while your full matter progresses.
Learn more about interim orders (Practice Direction 16).
Completing the application form
To help you complete the form correctly—so it meets the Act’s requirements—you will be prompted along the way.
There are limitations on the parties to a dispute. Before lodging your application, you must have attempted self resolution and, in most cases, conciliation with our office.
This form will take approximately 20–30 minutes to complete. You can’t save this form to complete later—you must fill it out completely before you exit this screen.
You will need
To complete this form you must have all the necessary information including the:
- registered name of your body corporate
- community titles scheme (CTS) number
- regulation module that applies to your body corporate.
If you do not have this information, contact Titles Queensland on 07 3497 3479 before you start to complete this form.
You will also need to provide the name and contact details of your body corporate secretary and body corporate manager (if you have one). You can find this information in the minutes of your most recent annual general meeting (AGM). Otherwise access your body corporate records to find the information.
After completing the form
When you complete the online form, it will generate a PDF application with the information you provided. You must then:
- download the form
- print or save a copy
- attach any supporting documents
- lodge it with the relevant application fee.
If you need more space to explain your self resolution attempts, the order(s) sought or grounds for the order(s) sought, you can attach a separate document and give it the relevant title—either ‘Self resolution’, ‘Order(s) sought’ or ‘Grounds’.
Help with applying
If you have difficulty completing this form, you can call the BCCM Information Service on (freecall) 1800 060 119.
The information service can give you general information about the legislation and application requirements. They cannot complete the form for you or provide you with specific wording.