Boutique Body Corporates Limited

There is nothing boutique about this body Corp other than the extravagant fees they will charge you.
Run a million miles in the other direction when you see the name craig leishman.

We have these guys as our body corporate they are bloody terrible no communication take ages to get anything done

Not recommended. Lacking in integrity. You can not trust this Body Corp Management Company with your money nor expect any level of service from them either in return.

There is something very wrong with body corporate law and regulations in New Zealand if a company like Boutique Body Corporate is able to operate and take responsibility for peoples property and money.

Would you work with any other professional service provider with this reputation?

Google is your friend, do your research on Boutique and its director. Talk to your lawyer and other professionals in the industry before choosing to work with Boutique.

Sad to see a negative review of Craig and a personal attack …. Sue this is not ‘Christian at all’. I worked closely with Craig as chairman during a leaky building claim and found him to be honest and direct. I am not a powerful person in fact a pensioner with a unit in the apartment block concerned. I can totally recommend working with BBCL

We changed from our previous Bodycorp Managers when we were getting nowhere with leaking issues in our complex and engaged BBCL.
BBCL then steered our 62 unit leaky building complex through a very difficult past 6 or 7 years of a complete reclad. Craig, the manager of BBCL, made what was a very difficult time for all owners, the best of an uncertain future. Craig has extensive knowledge in the area of reclading and was able to answer the questions and concerns owners had, legal and practical, thus making the project flow as smoothly as could be expected, including dealing with some owners not wanting to admit problems, helping owners with difficulty paying, managing, Architects, Contractors, Project Managers etc. So now we are proud owners of units that have tripled in value, prior to the refurbishment. I would not hesitate in recommending BBCL for such a project or as BC Managers.

I believe Craig Leishman is one of the most corrupt business men I have ever dealt with. He only defends the powerful as he only smells the money and he does not care about the truth. He needs to be impartial between owners. However he will never be fair to an owner who has less power than other owners. He promotes bullying as he stands by the powerful. Professionalism, fact and knowledge based approach on matters are scarce to be found - all political and greediness. I believe my comments here sound like a compliment to him as he will think "That's right this is my secret to success I am not stupid enough to defend the truth and the less powerful? Who cares? " I wish he could repent for his eternal life in front of Jesus Christ when the King is coming. All will disappear but the truth of word of God will never perish.

Very slow to respond to owner requests. Wouldn't trust them one little bit. Especially one manager RA. She is hard work and obstructive. Bearing in mind the owners pay BBCL.the work is minimal. Untrustworthy

This Body Corporate Secretary service operates on the edge of the law to benefit themselves with little thought to the owners they are supposed to represent. Check out the director’s criminal record if you want insight into his character. I am all for giving reformed criminals a chance, but he does not meet my criteria for the definition of “reformed”. Avoid at all cost! Selfish and arrogant even if it cannot be proved some of his actions are illegal. There are better choices.

When dealing with a leaky complex I can’t think of anyone with more experience and understanding than BBCL and especially Craig Leishman to guide you through what is a very stressful time. We needed to change from our previous Body Corporate manager due to them unfortunately not having the required experience to lead owners through a leaky complex reclad. BBCL and more importantly Craig Leishman gave us direction on what was a rudderless ship before he came on board and he gave us invaluable advice to get us on track to getting our complex to completion. I have know doubt that owners would have suffered greater costs if we didn’t have BBCL guiding us through it. I only wish we had had BBCL from the start. I highly recommend BBCL and Craig Leishman to any complex big or small who is going through leaky issues or who is just after a great body corporate manager.

Our complex of 10 townhouses in Parnell moved to Boutique Body Corporate after the recommendation of a couple of acquaintances. Our complex had been in the midst of leaky home litigation, and we decided on Boutique Body Corporate due to its substantial track record of success in the area. Under the guidance of Craig Leishman, the complex worked with Grimshaw's through High Court and mediation towards an outcome that simply could not be any better. Craig also helped us all with bridging finance through his excellent relationship with banks. During this difficult time, we found Craig to be frank and honest, giving us winning advice time and again around the very difficult choices that were facing us. He managed to coalesce 10 very different owners to work together towards a common goal, which is no mean feat and a critical part of the equation. He did not mollycoddle us, but at the same time treated us with respect and no small amount of kindness and sympathy as things went on. Importantly, all of his advice was spot on. As a very happy owner of one the rebuilt townhouses, we recommend Boutique Body Corporate unreservedly.

Incompetent company. The people who are giving the five stars reviews all have ties to the company and are not to be trusted (including Andersaint - avoid this company too.)

UNETHICAL business! FRAUD! Terribly managed company! Zoe (manager) likes to argue with owners about money and not takes up financial responsibilities for the mistake she makes. Craig (director) and the company never respond to our complaints about Zoe and questions on ridiculously high charges. If you are working with them unfortunately by any chance, get the best lawyer and police team possible and protect yourself legally!

Our Body Corp contract was purchased by Craig Leishman, owner of Boutique Body Corporate Ltd (BBCL) from another company.
SADLY I wish our BC contract had never been purchased by Craig / BBCL.

My personal belief is that Craig is under-handed and unethical at best, overcharges for service provided and avoids providing information to the BC Committee if possible in order to keep people in the dark.
He seeks to control everything so that he has a "puppet Committee" who doesn't know what to do so they act as he wants them to. For some BC's he runs the BC meetings and does the MINUTES for AGM's EGM's and even BC Committee meetings. He is known to refuse to alter minutes even when the Committee has asked for the record to be corrected.

He offers to be a "white knight" and help owners who are short of funding to carry out remediation.looks nice. BUT contract appears to be similar to a "black knight" and benefiting himself / his friendly funders. Sometimes ends up buying funded units at LOW prices ready for sale later (at a profit?) and gaining control of voting options!
In my view AVOID any offers of funding through Craig.

He seeks to create division between the owners and the BC Committee in order to retain power and control (Trumpian methods?). Has written direct to owners claiming BC Committee is not acting in the interests of all owners when this is patently false! Often "shoots the messenger" rather than addressing issues when they are raised in meetings. Loves to state he is a trained lawyer and expert in these matters and that you should trust him!

He is careful with words and likes to state that "I am trained lawyer". Which is true. He trained as a lawyer in late 70's/80's (?) and has a law degree HOWEVER he avoids declaring that he was disbarred from practising as a lawyer in 2003 (NZ Law Society 107th Annual Report for Year ended 30 Nov 2003: Craig Andrew Leishman, barrister & solicitor, formerly of Perth, now of Auckland struck off on 2 April 2003 after being found guilty of charges that being convicted of offences punishable by imprisonment reflected on his fitness to practise and tended to bring the profession into disrepute, and which amounted to conduct unbecoming a barrister and solicitor; ordered to pay costs of $7,804). Also see. (Sunday Star Times; 25 July 2010: He is a former lawyer who was bankrupted in 1992. Then in 2000 he was sentenced to two years' jail by a court in Western Australia after pleading guilty to charges relating to drink driving and causing the death of a 19-year-old woman in a car accident). Bankrupted in 1992 and disbarred in 2003 - Hmm.

While we were writing a letter to cancel BBCL's contract, Craig emailed us to say he couldn't work with us any more! He wanted to be able to say that he fired us! YAHOO, we were really happy to be "fired" by him.

Advice - poor: Trust - avoid; Honesty - untrustworthy: Openness - expects it from the BC but does not consistently provide it in return.

He is likely to legally threaten and bully to try and get this removed however I am willing to provide written documentation and to swear my beliefs are very sincerely held.

For anyone thinking of using this company, I will tell you the thing I wish I knew at the start. The director is an ex-bankrupt. Not the sort of person I would like to do budgets for my Body Corporate (and believe me, it showed)

So of the 5 star reviews for this company:

Chelsea Wang - works there
Mike Dermont - Mike Dermont Cavanagh who owns several business with the director
Carly Pratt - related to a shareholder

If you can't get honest 5 star reviews you don't deserve them.

We changed from another body corporate late last year (with no end of issues) and have found Boutique to be prompt, responsive, knowledgable and very friendly to deal with. It has been a pleasure dealing with BBCL and have the upmost confidence in recommending them to anyone in need of a competent body corporate manager.

We made the decision to move to BBCL two years ago essentially due to the poor service we were receiving from our current provider. Their service, communication and professionalism has been a breath of fresh air. I have no hesitation recommending BBCL to anyone looking for a professional Body Corporate Manager.

So of the 5 star reviews for this company:

Chelsea Wang - works there
Mike Dermont - Mike Dermont Cavanagh who owns several business with the director
Carly Pratt - related to a shareholder

If you can't get honest 5 star reviews you don't deserve them.

I am a member of five other body corporate and BBCL is the most efficient to deal with. I have been around apartment buildings for the last 15 years and have not found any company as great as this organisation. Really good communications and professionally run meetings.