Grouse over spouses on EC
‘Can a husband and wife both be on the executive committee,’ writes Kenuppa on the Forum. The simple answer is yes in NSW, but no in Victoria and Queensland. However,…
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.
Short term pain, long term gain
Our recent story about how the Building Appeals Board in Victoria had decreed that short-term rentals in residential apartment blocks are in contravention of the building codes and are therefore…
By-laws not optional for tenants
Do tenants in NSW really have to obey by-laws, wonders Flat Chat website regular KiwiPaul. “In NSW the tenancy agreement only states that tenants have to be given a copy…
Split bills too hard to swallow
“Let’s just divvy it up,” is the civilised way for friends to pay for a meal. But it doesn’t work so well when it comes to covering the running costs…
Two routes for disputes
If you want to read an editorial piece explaining the ‘easy’ and ‘hard’ ways to pursue complaints and by-law breaches and resolve disputes in strata in NSW. That piece now…
Wannabe renter too pet friendly
OK, first, let me make it clear that I am in favour of pets in apartment buildings – provided they have permission and they don’t make a noise or destroy…
Building code ban on short term lets
Footy fans, bucks parties and schoolies running riot in residential strata buildings could be a thing of the past if a key ruling in Victoria is used as a legal…
Pet by-laws around Australia
First of all, let’s be clear on this – while there are ‘model’ by-laws that govern all sorts of things, including pets, they differ from state to state and even…
Forgetful residents fined for over use of lifts
Is this energy conservation gone mad? A high-rise building in Sydney has just announced what amounts to fines for residents who forget things in their flats and then have to…
Sold out by short notice
QUESTION: I want to end my fixed term tenancy agreement because the landlord wants to sell the premises. They did not tell me this before entering into the tenancy agreement.…
Landlords breaking laws
Hundreds of strata landlords are breaking the law. Make that thousands … Hell, make it tens of thousands – nobody really knows. What we do know is that it clearly…
Window of opportunity for child safety
There are some very good reasons for the plan to force limiters to be fitted on to strata windows to stop young kids falling out of them. The fact that…