Strata vote shambles leads to shipstorm of strife
Here’s an all-too typical tale of strata power struggles, law-bending, alleged vote-rigging and a Trumpian inability by key players to accept that they might have got it wrong. I’m not…
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PODCAST 57: Developer database – why bank computers could say “no”
Sue Williams is back in the Flat Chat Wrap co-chair this week as we discuss the proposed Dodgy Developer Database announced by the NSW government last week. Sue reckons it…
Register and log-in … we’re back on track
Editing a website is a bit like driving a train – everything seems to be working fine until you look behind you and realise you don’t have any passengers. And…
‘Fun police’ jibe as $1100 fines threatened over noisy kids
A story about a strata management company threatening residents in an apartment building with $1100 fines if playing children make too much noise is bouncing around the internet. The story made…
Dodgy developer database won’t be for public view
Don’t get over-excited. The new “dodgy developer” database announced this week by NSW Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson may well be a game changer, especially if adopted by other states,…
PODCAST 56 – Flat-hunting, packing and Swedish Death Cleaning
“It’s like heading down the runway while you are still building the plane” – no, we’re not talking about buying off the plan, but the pressures and perils of creating…
From the Forum: Can we ban Social Housing tenants?
Here’s an issue that hasn’t raised its (very) ugly head for a while – what can you do about potentially disruptive social housing tenants who’ve been dumped in private residential…
How we were dead wrong about zombie votes
Ooops! A couple of weeks ago on our podcast, I said that Enduring Power of Attorney lasted after someone died, at least until their estate was resolved. Turns out, this…
Privacy or transparency? A Tribunal member rules
Our most recent Flat Chat Wrap podcast was largely about how some strata committees wrongly use privacy laws (which are irrelevant to strata schemes) to prevent owners from getting together…
PODCAST 55 – Privacy poppycock, powers of attorney and pets in peril
This week in the podcast we revisit the vexed question of whether or not you should be allowed to view other owners’ email addresses. The SCA (Strata Community Australia –…
From the Forum: Can we cancel holiday let keys?
This week, a Flatchatter wants to know if their by-law, in support of their council zoning, is adequate for keeping Airbnb out of their building, and if they can use…
Tribunal won’t sack slack caretakers, say body corporate owners
Unit owners in Queensland are being advised to avoid the state’s tribunal system and just pay private contractors to cover their caretakers’ shortcomings, after a series of cases against poorly…