Taking the biscuit
A couple of weeks ago we asked for Flatchatters’ opinions on the idea of executive committee members being paid a little more that a chocolate biscuit and a cup of…
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.
Look through any window
The question of where common property starts an finishes is pretty much hypothetical … until you want to do something with part of your property that doesn’t actually belong to…
The Good Oil
Here at Flatchat Mansions, we’re sure that if you counted up the number of times different subjects were raised, parking would be numero uno. And as much as we try…
Curbing crazy EC members
It’s hard to know what to say about Harry Triguboff’s statement, mentioned in passing in a recent interview in the Sydney Morning Herald, that he had persuaded Bob Carr to…
Eat yourselves to death
Spring is just around the corner and everybody who lives above a neighbour with a barbecue knows exactly what that means. QUESTION: Our 200-plus unit Strata Scheme has a bylaw…
Finding a Good Strata Manager
Strata managers are an essential cog in the running of apartment buildings, especially large ones. But when things go wrong, they can often appear to be little more than a…
Knickers in a twist over laundry
Most people most of the time just want to do the right thing. But when thoughtless neighbours get in the way of good behaviour, well, anyone can get their knickers…
A cup of tea and (big) bikkies
Flatchat was invited to speak at the Institute of Strata Titles Managers’ annual conference a couple of weeks ago and among the ideas we floated was that Executive Committee members…
High Cost of the High Life
A friendly FlatChatter bailed me up the other day to complain about one of those perennial apartment living gripes – levies. Now, this bloke lives in a big sub-penthouse apartment…
Big Trouble in Little Boxes
The biggest adjustment for a lot first-time apartment owners is finding out that they don’t have the freedom to do what they want in their own property. For many, the…
Flatchat Hits a Century
Believe it or not, this is the 100th Flatchat column since we started back in 2004. In the intervening years every tragic aspect of strata life has paraded through these…
Just Don’t Do It
Those of us who live in apartment and love it worry a little that all the negative press (mostly generated by this column) might put people off buying into buildings…