Strata’s seething, sticky, scheming sneaks
Get this, all you quarter-acre-blockers: most apartment dwellers are mostly happy most of the time. In the last year, Consumer Affairs Victoria received around 7900 enquires but little more than…
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.
Broadband providers bashing on doors
High speed internet service providers are threatening legal action to force apartment block owners across Sydney to allow them to install their equipment and cable their buildings. Using the laws…
Selling off the whole box and dice
It used to be called “strata extinguishment” and it’s now called “collective sales and renewals” but basically it’s all about strata schemes selling off the entire block so someone can…
Express lift key perks
You get little thanks for serving on an executive committee and even less reward. But, like politicians with travel allowances, the temptation to award yourself little perks is always there.…
The strata law reform position paper
I’m probably going to take a lot of stick for this because I have been fairly unstinting in my praise for these proposals. Sure, they’re not 100 percent right and…
Best flat in the worst building
We are often told the best piece of property advice is to buy the worst house in the best street (and definitely not vice versa). But what if you are…
New Strata Laws – a preview
In his speech to the Strata Community Australia’s Owners day on Saturday, Fair Trading Minister Anthony Roberts outlined a number of key elements of proposed change in the upcoming review…
Room to move in strata law reform
This is the comment piece that ran alongside the news story in the Herald on November 4. ‘Lord, give me the courage to change what I can, the serenity to…
Digital TV dilemma for small blocks
Get switched on to digital The big switchover to digital TV from analog in our two biggest cities is just a few weeks away – December 3 in Sydney and…
Best units in the worst blocks
At a time when developers and apartment buyers agree on at least one thing – they both want low levies – the leading pressure group for strata dwellers is hoping to…
Renters: What’s the problem?
Strata tenants and landlords get a lot of stick. Tenants are blamed every time there is a problem (because owners never park in the wrong place, play loud music or…
Balcony spa parties won’t wash
The owner of a spa installed on a balcony is about to get himself in hot water – despite the fact that the chairman of his building is a regular…