New laws to make owners fix common property
Strata schemes that are dragging their feet on repairs may be forced to undertake them, embedded networks that cheat apartment owners could be killed off, pet application fees could be…
Strata Defects
They range from minor issues with finishes to major structural and fire safety problems – and when repairs are rwuired , the buck stops with the owners. Hers are hundreds of posts that track the failures of the past and the current efforts to create a less defective future.
Strata Matters numbers set to grow, Covid-willing
Late Breaking News: The NSW Government has updated the roadmap for easing restrictions after the State reaches the 95 per cent double dose vaccination target or 15 December, whichever comes…
Sea-change block blitz as commissioner heads north
Sea-changing apartment buyers tempted out of Sydney by the charms of NSW’s north coast – or driven out by fears of future lockdowns – may feel slightly more secure this…
Forum: Chihuahua driving neighbour barking mad
There can be few things worse in strata that finding yourself living next door to an incessantly yapping dog. Actually, there is: living next door to an incessantly yapping dog…
Webinar: Flooded with queries on waterproofing
One of the more fascinating facts to emerge from Building Commissioner David Chandler’s discussions about the two recent surveys revealing the number and extent of defects in new buildings was…
Strata insurers must not forget a horrible history
There’s a statement about a proposal to invite insurance firms to provide building warranties for new apartment blocks – but only those constructed by the best builders – which may…
Podcast: See you soon … on your CCTV screens
Exactly who gets to view the recording from your strata scheme’s CCTV cameras? That’s a topic that’s been keeping us occupied on the Flat Chat Forum and now gets an…
Insurance plan to drive out dodgy developers
The best and most reliable apartment developers will soon be able to get construction insurance, for the first time in Australia for nearly 20 years, writes Sue Williams. And that…
Podcast: Chandler reveals true defects challenge
In this week’s podcast we hear the voice of defect rectification in NSW as David Chandler takes to the airwaves to explain why two different surveys have revealed that about…
On brink of evacuation after defects warning
A perfect storm of disagreeing experts, extreme caution, genuine fears for safety and an earthquake, took an apartment block to the brink of being evacuated last week. Add in concerns…
Report reveals extent of unit block defects
For the past two years or more, a team of top academics based at UNSW’ s City Futures Research Centre has been investigating defective apartment construction in NSW. In a…
Podcast: Freedom for some but at what cost?
The Flat Chat Wrap podcast covers a lot of ground this week, from the state-wide easing of covid restrictions in NSW (but not in Victoria) to a little local difficulty…