Two Committee Signatures: The Key to a Smooth Management Rights Settlement

When selling your management rights business, one seemingly small step can make or break your settlement timeline: getting the committee’s sign-off on the Deed of Assignment. How many committee members must sign this deed? Typically, two. In Queensland, the law requires at least two committee members (e.g. the Chairperson and one other) to sign on behalf of the body corporate. In NSW, the owners corporation likewise needs two authorised signatories to affix its seal. In short, only these two signatures are needed – not the entire committee – to provide the required consent. (This deed is the document that actually transfers your caretaking/letting agreements to the buyer – if it isn’t signed by the committee, the sale cannot legally settle.


Avoid Delays: Key Pitfalls
A bit of foresight can save you from last-minute headaches. Keep these points in mind:

• Timing: Committees have up to 30 days by law to approve a transfer once they have all required info. If you don’t build this into your timeline or you submit incomplete paperwork, any “delay” is usually the committee waiting on you.
• Coordination: Line up the required signatories early. Ensure the Chair or Secretary is available to sign, and give the committee a heads-up instead of dropping paperwork on them at the last minute. Good preparation goes a long way toward a quick signature.

• Including Committee Titles When Signing a Deed of Assignment
  
• When two committee members sign a Deed of Assignment on behalf of a body corporate (Queensland) or owners corporation (NSW), it is standard to include their official titles (for example, Chairperson or Secretary) with their signatures. Simply signing names without indicating capacity is generally not sufficient if you want to ensure the document is validly executed.

• Below is a practical breakdown of the requirements and best practice in Queensland and New South Wales, and whether including titles is legally required or merely recommended.
  
  In Queensland, bodies corporate no longer need to use a common seal as of 1 May 2024. Documents can now be signed by authorised individuals.
  A common and accepted method—particularly for management rights agreements and deeds of assignment—is for two committee members to sign, one of whom must be the Chairperson or Secretary. Importantly, the execution block should clearly state each signatory’s full name and their authority or position, such as:
• John Smith – Chairperson
• Jane Doe – Committee Member
• This reflects updated execution guidance following the removal of mandatory sealing requirements.
  Including the committee title is effectively required under current Queensland practice. Documents lodged for registration will generally not be accepted unless the signatories’ names and positions are clearly identified. Even where registration is not required, stating the office held remains industry best practice and avoids any doubt about authority or validity.
  
  New South Wales – Owners Corporation ExecutionIn New South Wales, an owners corporation typically executes documents by affixing its common seal under the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015.
  For schemes with more than two owners, the seal must be affixed in the presence of two authorised persons, usually the Secretary and another strata committee member, unless alternative authorisation has been given.
  While the legislation does not explicitly say titles must be written next to signatures, in practice the attestation clause identifies each signatory by name and position (for example, “Secretary” or “Strata Committee Member”). Approved forms used for registration adopt this approach to demonstrate compliance.
  Failing to identify the signatories’ roles can create uncertainty as to whether the correct office-bearers were present, which may jeopardise the validity of execution.
  
  Legally Required or Just Recommended?In both Queensland and New South Wales, including committee titles is more than a formality:
• Queensland: Titles and authority should be stated to demonstrate proper execution by authorised officers.
• Best practice: always include the committee member’s title next to their signature.
• New South Wales: Identifying the signatories’ positions is essential to prove statutory compliance.
  
  

At SIRE, Jessica and The SIRE Team ensure the contracting to settlement goes smoothly. We speak the language of committees, banks, and lawyers, and we bring institutional discipline to the process. By preparing the committee early and keeping everyone informed, you ensure approvals and signatures come swiftly. Our proactive approach means that by settlement, the committee’s sign-off is secured – no stress, no surprises.
Ready for a smoother path to settlement? List your management rights with The SIRE Team and let us handle the details that matter most.




Resources

• Titles Queensland – Execution requirements for bodies corporate (post–1 May 2024)
• Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), Section 273
• Industry execution guidance for management rights transfers and deeds of assignment
  
  ​Disclaimer
• This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. Execution requirements can vary depending on scheme circumstances, by-laws, and legal advice. Independent legal advice should always be obtained before relying on this information.

Written by Richard Skiba, Principal of SIRE - Synergy International Real Estate
​2016