Stairway trick a low blow
Most of the questions to this column arrive via the Forum, these days, or by email. But occasionally I get approached at a party- a bit like a doctor being…
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Pool parties no fun
We got a posting on the forum this week from a tenant in flats near UNSW. He was assured before he moved in that the block was very strictly run…
Shut out by nutter manager
QUESTION: I rent an apartment and car space. I once wrongly parked in common property and was warned by the building manager, who was very angry. I moved and apologised.…
The definitive ‘who owns what’
One of the recurring issues on Flat Chat is who is responsible for what in a strata building – brought to a boil recently when I mentioned that downlights in…
Safety nets on strata balconies
It's a brave Flatchatter who puts aesthetics before children's lives so I'm keeping right out of this discussion about safety nets for balconies. QUESTION: My company imports and installs internationally…
I want to break free from break fees
QUESTION: My landlord wants me to sign a lease including a break fee of up to six weeks rent. There is a high demand where I live and I can’t…
Tricky leak excuses don’t wash
Sometimes in strata you have to fight dirty just to get things done, like in a building where two apartments’ bathrooms leak water into the rest of the block. The…
It takes two to Twitter fight
I got into my first Twitter war last week when I tweeted that tenants can take their strata plan to the Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal to get common property…
Lightbulb moment on not very bright idea
How many strata owners does it take to change a lightbulb? None, according to a Flat Chat Forum regular who found a quirk in the strata laws that sent Fair…
Anger at mad cow charge
Every time I think I’ve read just about every weird story under the sun, I get, something like this. It’s not strictly strata … but it’s a doozy! QUESTION: We…
Asking for trouble
Why would anyone ever volunteer to be on their Executive Committee? Think about it: you spend hours fixing other people’s problems, get dog’s abuse if you can’t give them the…
Noisy lifts get me down
QUESTION: I’ve been renting this apartment for about a year now and recently the lifts in the building have become very noisy, mainly because they’re not well maintained. Also they…