Bird Brain: ban on feeding feathered friends
Can a strata owners corporation order a resident to stop feeding wild birds. And should the owner be feeding them in the first place? The question was asked by Flat…
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.
Parking clickers a tricky issue
QUESTION: “I live in a big building of 300-plus apartments, and the owner of each car space is issued with a clicker for the car park to let them in…
Victoria – we’re here for you too
Although this website occasionally gets questions from Victorian strata dwellers, it’s probably fair to say that we reflect the fact that Flat Chat started in the Sydney Morning Herald with…
How much noise is too much?
Should we suck it up or shut it down – that’s the puzzle facing many apartment residents who are unsure if they have the right to ask their neighbours to…
Wall of sound when room removed
Question My tenant says her next door neighbour – an owner – plays his TV and stereo at full volume, keeping her awake at night. The chap next door denies…
Noisy kids or nasty neighbours?
A landlord whose tenants’ children have been accused of being noisy and playing ball games in the common area wants to know if the other residents are over-reacting or if…
Thumbs down for upgrade demands
Older buildings need no longer fear the demands of tech-savvy owners insisting on upgrades to the latest you-beaut infrastructure, thanks to a landmark NSW Appeals Court ruling. It is now…
Can by-laws limit number of residents
Limit on tenants – but who’s counting? “Can bylaws be put in place to restrict the number of residents in a unit,” asks Bearforce1 on the Flat Chat forum. He…
Parking cops for strata blocks
Parking cops for strata blocks Concerns over illegal parking in strata schemes near railway stations and office developments – and the possibility of apartment and townhouse owners taking the law…
Parking thieves: some strategies
Illegal parking by outsiders in strata blocks is a perennial problem. While strata residents – owners and tenants – can be fined or, according to some lawyers, clamped or towed…
Who’s responsible for my leaky windows?
QUESTION: We own an investment property and for the past year two sets of tenants have advised the managing agent that water is penetrating through the bedroom windows in heavy…
No love lost over noisy nookie
A Sydney apartment dweller is planning to record her neighbours’ noisy lovemaking in an effort to force them to re-carpet their tiled floors. Plagued by nightly sounds of “moaning, screaming…