When neighbours hang you out to dry
Make no mistake, the single most important change the government could include in its strata law review would be to make the enforcement of by-laws compulsory (as it is in…
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Is direct let a safe bet?
QUESTION: I am about to lease a townhouse directly from the owner. What things should I ask for to prove proof of ownership? Will the bond form be enough proof?…
Writing on wall for big TV
QUESTION: We recently bought a big new flat screen TV for our fairly small flat and, for a variety of reasons it would look great on the wall. The by-laws…
How to cope with EC crazies
Every executive committee has had one at some time – a member who can only see one point of view (theirs) and for whom being outvoted is evidence of either…
Less is best but lease is more
We got a posting recently from a tenant who has gone from a six month lease to a “periodic” – ie, open-ended – tenancy. The landlord asked to put the…
Are U2 in the strata with no names?
Are you too in the strata with no names? Should executive committee members be a secret society or available for comment and complaint by phone, email and the occasional front-up?…
Water on brain … money down drain
Do you have any idea how much you are paying for your water? One of the great embarrassments of strata living in this state is that most of us aren’t…
Investment that bounces
QUESTION: I’m looking at buying a one-bedder in a hotel conversion as an investment property. The asking price is about $550K and the average rent is $650 per week. That…
Negligent agent – but who pays?
QUESTION: I live next door to a unit that has recently sold. Over a ten year period, the property has been continuously let via one real estate agent. I went…
Setting strata straight
The state government is currently canvassing opinions on how we think strata law should be fixed. The fact that they are admitting there are problems is a huge breakthrough in…
Antisocial networking
I’ve been extolling the virtues of a Redfern building’s Facebook page so it was disappointing to hear about another Sydney block where the networking has become very antisocial. Renters…
The year of living strategically
As this is the last Flat Chat for the year, let’s look at what’s happened in strata in the past 12 months. We got a new Fair Trading Minister when…