Proposed reforms will see properties operating under community title schemes sold or redeveloped with the approval of 75 per cent of owners.

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman said the change from the current rule of all owners approving terminations was called for by participants at the government’s housing summit last year.

She said the draft legislation, which would be consulted on in the coming months, will also allow a dissenting owner to oppose terminations in the District Court.

“I’ve heard many stories of rundown units, townhouses or complexes with unsustainable ongoing maintenance costs where owners want to terminate, but a single owner blocks this from occurring,” Fentiman said in a statement on Thursday.

“The government recognises that some owners may not wish to sell their unit or move to a new home, so termination arrangements must balance the rights and interests of all lot owners in a scheme.”

The proposed laws would also allow bodies corporate to ban smoking in outdoor and communal areas of community title schemes, and tow away vehicles preventing access or causing a hazard.

However, under the legislation, bodies corporate will no longer be allowed to ban residents from keeping pets, except in specific circumstances.

“We also know that pets are important to many Queenslanders and that, as more people choose to live in community title schemes, keeping animals is an increasingly pertinent issue,” Fentiman said.

“Second-hand smoke can be a serious concern, and these laws will ensure that bodies corporate are able to make more substantial decisions about the health and wellbeing of residents.”

She said the changes will also make it easier for residents to lodge body corporate disputes and expand adjudicators’ powers.

The government will announce a second package of reforms to body corporate laws before the end of this year, with management rights, bullying and harassment rules being considered.

-AAP