What exactly is common property … and what isn’t?
‘How come the inside of my front door isn’t but the outside is?’ ‘If the paint on my walls is my responsibility, what about the tiles in my bathroom?’…
Featured
Vive la Revolution … why strata heads must eventually roll
Appropriately, with Bastille Day just behind us, we turn our thoughts this week to revolution. And while employing Madame Guillotine might seem a little excessive (if tempting), there comes…
Loan help for schemes hit by cladding insurance hikes
A shock rise in strata insurance premiums due to risks associated with flammable cladding has left many apartment owners struggling to meet price hikes, says owners corporation finance lender Lannock…
ROUNDUP: Signs of the times as OCN gets a boost
Last week, after our story about the Owners Corporation Network, more than 500 of you went over to their website and had a look around. What a terrific response! Now,…
Roundup: The only independent lobby group for strata owners and residents
Every little niche of our society seems to have its own pressure group, lobbyists or even political party. So why don’t we? After all, according to the stats in the…
Strata data: the facts of life for apartment dwellers
Guess how many people live in apartments in Australia. Actually, you don’t need to – it’s just over 2.2 million and a smidge less than 10 percent of the whole…
Just what we need – another crowd cashes in on the Airbnb boom
We received a press release last week from a UK-based company called Airsorted. They are promising to make it easier for you to let out – sorry, “share” – your…
Roundup: When is it OK to start plotting against the committee?
There’s been a lot of forum chat in the past week or so about whether or not it’s a good idea to set up an alt. committee – or strata…
Free gym equipment … all you need is muscle
Are you in an apartment block where the so-called gym has plenty of space but only contains a clapped out exercise bike and an “abserciser” that someone bought off a…
Legal costs – how to avoid losing when you win
The trouble with taking legal action is that even when you win, sometimes you can lose – especially in cases when no costs are awarded. And costs are rarely awarded…
‘Business as usual’ for Airbnb by-laws, says strata lawyer
With the announcement two weeks ago that legislation is going to be changed, allowing owners corporations to pass by-laws forbidding owners from listing their entire apartments on holiday letting websites,…
Would you buy a flat with a mate?
Would you consider buying a place with a friend, flatmate or family member? It’s an intriguing prospect but one that’s fraught with all sorts of pitfalls. The following is a press…