Tenants monstered by a mad manager
Usually we get owners writing to this column but tenants suffer just as much from strata maddies, if not more. QUESTION: We have been tenants in a block of about…
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.
BBQ Burners Bite Back
We are nothing if not adventurous at Flatchat Towers and a couple of weeks ago we dared to suggest that barbecues and balconies may not be a good mix. As…
Who gets first bite at the car park cherry?
Parking mad As more people own more cars and councils restrict the number of vehicle spaces in new buildings, parking is a constant source of irritation. But who takes priority, even…
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…
Mum in a brand new slum
The phrase “slum of the future” gets bandied around a lot – not least by yours truly – but if you think it’s an exaggeration, take a look at the…
Those pesky proxies
Recently we were talking about developers using dubiously obtained proxy votes to further their own interests – but they’re not the only ones playing fast and loose with the law. QUESTION:…
Smoking out your neighbours could cost big bucks
Ban the barbies Most people agree that old attitude of “my home is my castle” has no place in apartment living … until it comes to barbecues. In other parts of…
At least we’re not in Queensland … yet
OK, it’s a bit like saying we have the best cricket team in Belgium but I’m beginning to realise that here in NSW we have far and away the best…
Scams, shams and shady deals
If you’re in the market for a brand new apartment, especially one off the plan, there are some fairly major scams that you want to avoid if you possibly can. A…
Noise: Shut the folk up
Noise in apartment blocks is one of the three major pains of strata living (along with parking and pets). But if you have a noisy neighbour, there’s a couple of…
A home … not a hotel
OK, it’s a bit like saying we have the best cricket team in Belgium but I’m beginning to realise that here in NSW we have far and away the best…
Noise: Shut the folk up
Noise in apartment blocks is one of the three major pains of strata living (along with parking and pets). But if you have a noisy neighbour, there’s a couple of…