Forum: Chair dismisses experts and NCAT
The phrase “autocratic chair” is so common in strata it’s almost a tautology. I’m guessing things haven’t improved much since Donald Trump showed the world that all you need to…
Is this the answer to unfair water bill sharing?
One of the careless consequences of apartment developers’ cost-savings, especially in many older blocks, has been the single communal water meter that sees your water bills shared on the basis…
Fifty blocks sign up for interest-free cladding fix
Fifty strata communities across the state have registered for the NSW Government’s program to remove combustible cladding from residential apartment buildings across the state, according to a Fair Trading news…
Podcast: Work cut out for property commissioner
We’re looking at some big news this week on the podcast and wondering what it all means. NSW Fair Trading has announced that they will be appointing a properties commissioner…
Property commish to target dodgy RE dealings
NSW’s under-quoting and over-promising Real Estate agents should be quaking in their pointy shoes this week with the announcement that the state government is planning to appoint a Property Services…
Forum: Do seniors rules allow landlords too?
Does a unit built for seniors or people with disabilities have to be occupied by members of those groups or is it enough for it to be owned by one,…
Helping those who’ve got your back on strata law
For the past year or so we have been referring readers who need professional legal advice but can’t afford it, to the Marrickville Legal Centre (MLC). Although it’s based in…
Podcast: Boom town and band-aids for buildings
This week in the podcast Sue Williams is in Darwin on an assignment, and finds that not only is Darwin the hottest city in Australia temperature-wise (probably … apart from…
Developer of 1400 units facing defects claims
They say no publicity is bad publicity but you’d be forgiven for thinking the directors of Sydney developers Toplace Group would be happy to shuffle out of the limelight right…
Heavy hitters line up for Strata Matters seminar
Efforts to curb dodgy developers and their farcical phoenixing frauds have been the focus of a lot of media coverage of late, but what does it all mean? Are the…
Apartment or house – which is more sustainable?
A few weeks ago I made the somewhat bold assertion that apartments were less environmentally sustainable than free-standing houses. That was challenged by at least one reader, who believed that…
Airbnb rebound drives up rents and hits availability
The opening of borders prior to the most recent Victorian lockdown provided a glimpse of how short-term rentals are ready to ramp up again, leading to a shortage of residential…