Are rogue renovators doing your block?
“I have just bought a unit and I want to renovate,” says a reader. “Is there anything I need to know and permissions I need to get before I proceed.”…
Past Posts
These posts go all the way back to the raw versions of my Flat Chat columns for the Sydney Morning Herald’s Domain section over th e past 15 years. Some of the issues are specific to New South Wales, some are universal. There will almost certainly be differences in strata law between NSW and other states and countries and the laws have changed over that timespan too.
If you have a serious problem, contact the agencies (in Australia) listed in our contacts sections. Or contact a properly qualified and experienced strata lawyer. These columns should not be regarded as a substitute for professional legal advice.
Are your levies too high … or too low?
Nobody likes paying strata levies or fees, as they are called in Victoria. They feel like a tax on apartment living even though they are really just your share of…
Mediation: The umpire strikes out
I have just sat through my first Fair Trading mediation, holding the hand of a friend who had raised a complaint, and I can now confirm what Flat Chat readers…
Study lets renters rant
It’s one of the truisms of apartment living – renters don’t complain … they just move somewhere better. That’s not always the case but tenants could be forgiven for thinking…
Rent rebate for reno gone wrong
Nobody wants to be a whinger, especially when they have just moved into a supposedly renovated property, but Flatchatter Gumball has plenty to complain about. “Nearly all the windows have…
Flat Chat hits 500
They said it would never last (well, I did) but this is my 500th Flat Chat column after more than 10 years of its existence. Why are we still here? Perhaps it’s…
An ill wind in Victoria
Whisper it, but Melbourne may be feeling the first gusts of a perfect storm that could and probably should lead to a major rethink about apartment living. Perhaps it will…
Defect deadline warning at Flat Chat Live
Executive committees in some new buildings have just four weeks to make a claim for defect rectification or they could miss out completely, according to panelists at last week’s Flat…
Noisebusters: Who ya gonna call?
A tenant in a group of townhouses has a problem with a noisy neighbour. She has approached the strata manager who has told her it’s not his problem as she…
Late call on rental damage
We came across this interesting titbit on the interweb – a couple had left their rented accommodation in May and their bond had been refunded (albeit after two months). Now…
Eye in the sky drone grounded
When an apartment resident decided to grow a “sauvage” garden on his balcony – filling it with soil and letting it grow wild – he claimed the by-laws allowed for…
Law defective on defect claims
It’s all gone quiet on the strata law reform front but that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Strata laws are one thing but the most significant legislation for new apartment…