How to find the perfect apartment to rent or buy
With record-high rental vacancy rates across much of Australia, tenants are suddenly able to choose how and where they live more freely than ever. But, despite all that, renters are…
Strata pets
There was a time in strata blocks when “no pets” was the default rule for apartment residents.
When the model by-laws in various states changed to allow residents to apply for permission to keep pets, which could not be unreasonably refused, “we have never allowed pets” was considered to be a reasonabe reason for refusal.
But times have changed and that is no longer the case, as you will read in these posts.
NB: Some of the stories in these pages go a long way back – check the dates as the laws may have changed. Also references to pets may be part of a larger story.
You called her what!?! Top pet names of 2021
It’s that time of year again when Pet Insurance Australia announces the top trending pet names of 2021. With some classic favourites and some great new names making this year’s…
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…
Heartbreak over Angus, the pet-ban busting dog
Angus, the pet-ban busting dog, has died. Singer Jo Cooper, who challenged her owners’ corporation’s “no pets” by-laws all the way to the NSW Court of Appeal – and won…
Forum: Do food deliveries offer milk boxes new life?
Here’s a blast from the past – or is it just case of waiting long enough and a fashion will come round again? Anyone who has lived in or visited…
Podcast: Blockdown roll call carries a $5000 sting
As we edge ever closer to relief from our various lockdowns – and the inevitable spike in infections that will follow before vaccinations fully kick in – the NSW government’s…
Podcast: Anti-anti-vaxxers and 20,000 listens
Forgive us for patting ourselves on the back this week but, having surpassed 20,000 downloads and listens to the podcast, I reckon we’ve earned a little self-indulgence. Suffice it…
Podcast: Defects detected and pets rejected
In this week’s podcast we chat about a report which reveals that one-third of 500 unit blocks inspected in a survey had serious defects, from leaking bathrooms, to fire safety…
Podcast: Pet regs, kid noise, renos and rants
There’s a lot to get through in this week’s podcast, not least the new regulations on pets in strata which replace the now defunct blanket bans on pets. Even so,…
New regulations shift onus to strata-friendly pets
It’s not too obvious at first, but the new strata scheme pet regulations published this week by NSW Fair Trading put the onus firmly on pet owners not to introduce…
New pet-friendly strata laws about to bite
A change in NSW strata law that comes in next week will radically alter the default position on pets in NSW strata schemes, bringing relief to pet owners and some…
You can’t be too clean with Covid-19 lurking
I have never been crash-hot on domestic cleaning. My natural indolence was once reinforced by a country farming woman who told me that she kept her house spotlessly clean, which…