Resources

Accommodation Types & Practices

ARAMA Queensland Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation focused on maintaining high quality standards in holiday accommodation and long term lodgings. Our Members provide self-catering, self-contained apartments (condominiums) with the comfort and security of a home away from home.

Our Members’ accommodation caters for:

  • the independent traveller
  • the family who want more space
  • the short stay or the longer stay
  • for the guest who wants to save on expenses
  • the guest who wants to prepare some or all of their own meals
  • the guest who wants a flexible holiday at a reasonable price

  • About ARAMA Accommodation

    Self-catering, self-contained holiday apartments (condominiums)

    • for the independent traveller
    • for the family who want more space
    • for the short stay or the longer stay
    • for the guest who wants to save on expenses
    • for the guest who wants to prepare some or all of their own meals
    • for the guest who wants a flexible holiday at a reasonable price

    Apartments are all in strata titled (community title) complexes and operate under body corporate legislation.

    Most apartments have separate bedrooms, a full kitchen, own laundry facilities and car parking.

    The resident manager provides a letting service for guests – contact the manager directly for reservations or more details at the onsite office. The resident manager provides cleaning, linen and caretaking services.

    The manager provides a tour/information desk with details of local activities and facilities. The manager will book a tour or activity for guests at no charge to the guest.

    Managers of properties shown in this section are all members of ARAMA – Australian Resident Accommodation Managers’ Association Inc. Each manager owns their own business, with contract agreements with the body corporate in accordance with Queensland legislation. The resident manager also has an appointment with the owner of the apartment. The manager acts as an agent for the owner of the apartment and holds a resident letting agent licence under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000, which is administered by the Queensland Office of Fair Trading.

    Complexes may be small with only 8 or 10 apartments or they may contain over 100 apartments. They may be low-rise (walk up) of two or three storeys or they may be high-rise of ten or more storeys and have an elevator. There is a wide choice, to suit the various requirements of any holiday guest.

    The resident manager is present to welcome guests, provide guests with their keys and explain details of the operation and features of the complex. As well as complying with Codes of Conduct set out in the legislation, each ARAMA members also complies with an industry Code of Conduct.

    The apartment is part of a body corporate and so the by-laws of the body corporate apply to issues such as noise, parking and use of the common property. As the apartments are individually owned, furniture and fittings may vary between apartments in the same complex.

    Guests settle quickly into their holiday apartment with the confidence of knowing there is someone available who can provide assistance and advice if needed.
    The skill with which a manager provides advice on tours, attractions and nearby activities and the manager’s quick response to guests questions has made this form of self-catering holiday accommodation a popular choice with a growing number of guests along Queensland’s holiday coast. Similar apartments are becoming more popular for business stays where the stay may be a few days or a couple of months.

  • Accommodation Practices

    • Bookings

      About Bookings and Occupancy

      Booking conditions may vary between buildings (each manager is an independent operator) but will generally follow the format below:

      Conditions of Bookings
      Please read these conditions carefully. Each person signing these conditions (“the Guest”) acknowledges and agrees that these conditions apply and extend to any person (also referred to as “Guest”) occupying or visiting the apartment or complex and/or using the facilities in the complex at the invitation of or with the authority of the Guest.

      1. Charges must be paid by cash, bank cheque or credit card before occupancy commences unless special prior arrangements have been made. If payment is made by cheque, receipt is issued subject to such cheque being cleared.
      2. Occupancy starts and finishes on the dates shown on the receipt.
      3. The Guest will be liable for payment of any charges incurred by any Guest together with all replacements and necessary costs for any damage or loss to the apartment and its contents or the Body Corporate property caused by any Guest.
      4. The apartment must not be used for any unlawful purpose.
      5. Guests must only park cars in the designated areas.
      6. Only the number of people shown on the receipt may stay in the apartment overnight.
      7. No animals or pets are to be brought onto the complex.
      8. Neither the Body Corporate, the Manager nor the apartment owner is liable for any damage or loss of property which a Guest may sustain while on the complex.
      9. The by-laws, rules and regulations of the complex and any reasonable direction of the Manager must be complied with. The apartment must be vacated if after receiving a warning, any Guest fails to comply.
      10. There is no refund for early departure.
      11. The Manager may inspect the apartment at any time with reasonable notice and at any time without notice if the Manager is of the opinion that there has been a breach of these conditions.
      12. The Manager and the apartment owner are not responsible for any misdescription of the apartment.
      13. In the event of the Guest desiring to cancel the booking, a refund of the deposit, less an administrative fee, will only be made if more than 28 days notice is given in high season or 14 days notice at other times.
      14. The Guest authorises the manager to charge any credit card for any loss, damage or monetary contribution for which any Guest is liable under this document or otherwise.
      15. If the occupancy ends or is terminated, the Guest must immediately vacate the apartment. The Manager is authorised to do whatever is required to enforce the eviction of any Guest and removal of Guests property.

      Cancellation policy may vary between buildings but generally follows a standard format.

      Complaints should be lodged in accordance with the relevant building’s documented procedure. A suggested procedure, which ARAMA provides as a guideline to members, is available to view in this site.

    • Cancellations

      Cancellation Policy

      Cancellation policy may vary between buildings but generally follows the format below.

      High Season

      • If the booking is cancelled 28 days or more prior to the planned date of arrival, there will be a full refund less an administration fee of $30.00.
      • If the booking is cancelled less than 28 days prior to the planned arrival date, there will be no refund unless and until the premises are re-let for the total period of the original booking. An administration fee of $30.00 will be deducted from the deposit held before the remainder is refunded.

      Mid & Low Season

      • If the booking is cancelled 14 days or more prior to the planned date of arrival, there will be a full refund less an administration fee of $30.00.
      • If the booking is cancelled less than 14 days prior to the planned arrival date, there will be no refund unless and until the premises are re-let for the total period of the original booking. An administration fee of $30.00 will be deducted from the deposit held before the remainder is refunded.

      Short Notice Bookings

      • Where a booking is made less than 14 days prior to the planned arrival date, there will be no refund unless and until the premises are re-let for the total period of the original booking. An administration fee of $30.00 will be deducted from the deposit held before the remainder is refunded.

      Confirmed Bookings

      • A booking that has not been confirmed by a deposit being paid is not guaranteed.
      • A deposit of the first night’s accommodation or 10% of the total tariff (whichever is greater) (unless otherwise stated) will confirm a booking.
      • The balance of the tariff is due on arrival (or such other time as stated)
      • Bookings are held subject to the owner’s approval. While the manager will use his best endeavours to offer alternative accommodation if the owner withdraws the apartment, the Office of Fair Trading does not prevent an owner from withdrawing property that is subject to a confirmed booking.

      The administration fee covers the cost of processing the booking, receipting and banking the money, cancelling the booking from the system, drawing the refund cheque, mailing the refund cheque with a covering letter and meeting bank charges.

    • Complaints

      Complaints should be lodged in accordance with the relevant building’s documented procedure.

      COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE GUIDELINE

      Each building is required under the Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Resident Letting Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulations 2001 to have in place a Complaints Procedure. While the procedure may vary between members, the following has been recommended to ARAMA members as the basis of a suitable procedure.

      1. The resident manager has successfully completed the requirements set down in the Property Agents and Motor Dealers Act 2000 by the Office of Fair Trading. The manager holds a resident letting agent licence under that Act.
      2. Most complaints and concerns can be resolved verbally with the manager. Please advise the manager that you wish to discuss a problem and the manager will arrange a suitable time to meet with you.
      3. If the matter is not satisfactorily resolved in discussion, you may advise the manager that you are not satisfied. You should then provide written details of your complaint to the manager who will provide a written response within seven days of receiving your written complaint.
      4. Most likely, the matter will have been resolved by this process. If financial restitution is involved, the restitution will be made within seven days of your acceptance of the resolution.
      5. If the manager rejects the complaint, the manager must give reasons for the rejection in the written response.
      6. Should you wish to pursue an unresolved problem further, you may use ARAMA’s industry dispute resolution process. Participation in an industry dispute resolution scheme is voluntary. Provide written details to:

        ARAMA Queensland Inc.
        PO Box 2477,
        Fortitude Valley BC Qld 4006.
      7. Should this process not be acceptable or suitable, alternative available steps are described in Section 38 (8) of the Property Agents and Motor Dealers (Resident Letting Agency Practice Code of Conduct) Regulations 2001, copies of which are available from the GoPrint or at www.legislation.qld.gov.au.

    • Goods and Services Tax

      Goods and Services Tax

      As the resident manager acts as agent for the owner in most letting by ARAMA members, no GST is charged in relation to the supply of accommodation. Accommodation services are provided for and on behalf of the owner of the apartment with the manager acting as letting agent. The supply is input taxed in accordance with the ATO’s GST Ruling 2000/20.

      When an invoice has a mixture of taxable supplies and GST-free accommodation on the same invoice, for example, input taxed accommodation and a tour, cot hire, telephone and other items, note that the invoice has no GST charged on the accommodation.