Generally, a designated trustee or director would need to take ownership of the communication portfolio, facilitating the collation of relevant information for dissemination across appropriate communication channels. Managing agents can significantly assist by promoting communication, creating a convenient template to capture the relevant feedback from the stakeholders and portfolios concerned.  Thereafter they can implement the relevant communication following board approval. In parallel, a culture of effective communication across the property needs to be promoted by:

•    Inviting comments from owners;
•    Encouraging attendance at trustee or director meetings through direct invitations to discuss specific issues;
•    Efficient responses to owner correspondence;
•    Creating and maintaining open and convenient communication channels, and
•    Resourcing the board level communication portfolio sufficiently, to achieve capacity and priority.  

The annual trustees or directors report for the annual general meeting is an additional tool that can be used to provide detailed and relevant information to owners but it is very often underutilised.

Warning signs that communication in a communal property is problematic and should be improved include:
•    A trend of property related complaints;
•    Regular squabble;
•    Escalating litigation or arbitration, and
•    Regular rotation of trustees and directors.

Unexpected stresses can also exacerbate the need for intensified communication in order to keep all owners and affected parties fully informed throughout the resolution process. Effective property management, particularly concerning financial management, facility management (cleaning, security, garden and pool care where applicable), and maintenance, goes a very long way to pre-empting issues and creating a sound foundation for effective communication. Owners typically choose a communal property for security, cost and location benefits, but also anticipate the intrusion of their privacy, preferences and convenience.

Achieving relative and sustainable harmony is unusual as a default, but it can be significantly promoted by achieving effective and consistent communication between all owners and particularly with the individuals elected to oversee the governance and management of the property.