Renters: cuts all round
QUESTION: The owners in our building have just cut the concierge services so they can reduce their levies, meaning that not only do we no longer have 24-hour security, we…
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.
Dog flap
QUESTION: The Executive Committee at our complex has received an application from a resident to install a doggy door on to their balcony. Our building manager has told us we…
Renters: Between bonds
QUESTION: I’m leaving my apartment to move somewhere closer to work, I’ve given my notice and everything is fine. The problem is, with the cost of moving house, buying a…
Plan to ban renovations
QUESTION: A slim majority on our executive committee want to introduce a new by-law to prevent owners making any internal structural renovations to their units because recent work done was…
The kids are not alright
QUESTION: One of our neighbours has young children who play noisily in the common areas on a regular basis. I don’t mind kids playing in the common areas, but these…
Renters: Rights and wrongs
Noise, nuisance and in-your-face “couldn’t give a stuff” attitude. Sure, there are some tenants like that but what happens when an owner is the problem and tenants are the victims?…
Renters: Sitting tenants
QUESTION: We have been on a series of one-year fixed-term leases with our current landlord which has been fine but now we are seriously thinking of buying our own apartment.…
How to stage a revolution
The executive committees and chairmen of strata blocks get a hard time – usually unfairly since they can’t please everyone and are giving up their time for free. But every…
Votes for all
It’s a bit of a tenants’ special this week, given that we’re launching our dedicated tenants column. And it’s not before time. Tenants generally get a bad press (not on…
Renters: Dress for success
The first Renters Rant and we have the most fundamental question of all: how do you become one? To be specific, how do you stand out from the crowd –…
Money for nothing
One of the most common complaints in strata living is about levies and specifically, why people should have to pay for things they don’t use. But there’s no such as…
Towering Inferno
Ever wonder why flat roofs, especially on older buildings, often have pebbles on them? Decoration? Drainage? Or something very “now” that the original builders probably didn’t even think about? QUESTION:…