Does new law target the last little old lady standing?
The recent panic over the impending law changes that will allow “designated authorities” to compulsorily buy bits of backyards and sell them on to developers, may have missed the point.…
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.
OFT untangles web
The new broom sweeping through the Office of Fair Trading has not only brushed up strata law but has scrubbed up its website too. If you can find it –…
WILD CATS AND FERAL OWNERS
Many buildings have restrictions on residents owning pets and keeping them in their apartments – but what if the pet-lovers neither own nor keep them? QUESTION: Eight feral cats hang…
By-laws and outlaws
QUESTION: Is it realistic to expect co-operation in observance of the strata by-laws by residents of apartment blocks? Our strata management agency recently told us that it is useless to…
Lonely at the top: Who does what in strata committees?
QUESTION: I have recently taken on the role of secretary of the executive committee of a small block of units because no-one else would do it. Funny that. As I’ve…
The contract con trick
I hear some of our less ethical developers are sidling up to Fair Trading Minister Linda Burney, trying to convince her that demanding your proxy votes – your right to…
IT’S A FAMILY AFFAIR
QUESTION: I am a new owner in a block of 10 units in which an absentee owner owns five apartments while three other members of his family own one each.…
Grab back your voting rights
Our recent article on developers demanding proxy votes in strata unit sales contracts has stirred things up, with one reader writing to tell us they had backed out of a…
Muscling in on your gym
With just about every new apartment block having some kind of gym, they are obviously a big attraction – especially, it seems, to personal trainers who even have to pay…
Getting on top of roof parties
It’s party time! And for apartment dwellers, that means a couple of months of getting to know your neighbours better or, in some cases, finding out which ones are selfish,…
Myths and misconceptions
What’s more important – saving the planet or looking neat and tidy? It sounds like a no-brainer but Flatchat was at a forum organised by Willoughby council a couple of…
When owners grab common property
Common property is a simple enough idea – every part of a strata building that isn’t specifically owned by one person is collectively owned by everyone. But there’s always someone…