When your neighbour’s an in-house fire hazard
QUESTION: Our building was on fire again today. The elderly owner concerned has caused fires in the building many times in the past few years. The owner, who needs nursing home…
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.
What’s not to love about strata living?
We tend to get hung up on the problems in strata – it goes with the territory – so it’s great when an antidote to the strata-haters who seem to…
Parking madness as tenant crosses the line
QUESTION: I share an undercover double car space with a tenant. Because he parks his car too far forward I have extreme difficulty getting in and out. I had the…
Weeding out owners who won’t work
Owners Corp money being spent on private property has had Flat Chat readers going round and round the garden, not to mention being led up the garden path. QUESTION: The…
How safe is ‘reasonably’ secure
QUESTION: A lease states that a landlord agrees to provide and maintain locks or other security devices necessary to keep the residential premises reasonably secure. What does this mean? I…
Room for your views on building reforms
Nobody could accuse Fair Trading of not listening – or at least asking us for our opinions. Whether or not they listen will only be known when legislation is drafted.…
Can we be ‘voted out’ of our homes
A couple of worried tenants have asked recently if it’s true that they can be evicted by the executive committees of unit blocks. Executive committees can’t order your eviction directly …
How to deal with a nasty neighbour
QUESTION: We live in a small apartment block where fewer than half the units are owner-occupied. My wife has been secretary of the Owners Corporation for a number of years…
Conscripted to the committee
QUESTION: We are a small Owners Corporation and, because of the added responsibilities and potential legal liabilities on Executive Committee members, we would like to compel all owners to also…
Public tenants, private fears
QUESTION: Is it possible to prevent units in our building from being rented by public housing to rent-assisted tenants? We understand that the government is encouraging owners to enter into…
Reality bites when tenancies tight
Every time we get into a discussion about tenants’ rights – whether it’s on the Herald’s digital pages or the Flat Chat Forum – sooner or later someone says ‘don’t…
Blowing in the wind
Living in a strata development where things aren’t run to your liking is challenging enough. But what if you live next door to a block where something really irritates you?…