Roundup: Huge cost of small debt … and your questions
A friend received an email from his strata committee treasurer the other day. He was $7 behind in his levies for his flat. It was no big deal, just an…
Why pre-sale renos could be bad planning
For any prospective home buyer with a skerrick of visual imagination, a rundown home is a massive canvas on which to express themselves. That might apply to apartments even more…
Quiz: How well do you know your strata stats?
A few weeks ago, UNSW’s City Futures department released its Australian National Strata Data report, which confirm a few prejudices and busted a few myths about apartment living in Australia.…
Poll: What annoys you most about your neighbours?
It’s been a while since we asked Flatchatters what they think about this UnAustralian lifestyle of living on top of each other, sharing space and having to tolerate each other’s…
NSW passes Australia’s tightest Airbnb laws
Short-term holiday letting in NSW will have “tougher but fairer” regulation from 2019, after the state parliament passed the Government’s plan for the industry yesterday. Minister for Better Regulation…
Clawbacks, shape-shifters and other off-the-plan horrors
Off-the-plan sales can be very attractive for potential owners looking to get into the property market. Depending on where you live, there are various tax benefits and grants available for…
Roundup: Our new look and your new questions
What do you think of our new look? It’s the same Flat Chat passions (and obsessions) as far as content is concerned, only it looks a bit more modern and…
Free strata seminars for Sydney and Queensland
Ever felt like the proverbial mushroom when it comes to strata information – kept in the dark and fed you-know-what? Strata Managers of the Year, Strata Choice are about to…
Jimmy and James on kids playing, window rebels … and barbecues
In JimmyT’s (almost) regular spot on James Valentine’s Afternoons on ABC 702, they field questions from listeners … and have a quick chat about Jimmy’s new book.
Sydney blocks save $1m in smart green apartment scheme
The City of Sydney’s popular smart green apartments program – which last year helped 20 unit blocks save an average of $57,000 off their annual power bills – is now…
Disgust and despair as Vic Labor caves in to Airbnb
Anti short-term holiday letting community members in Victoria, furious at the Labor Government there for handing their homes over to Airbnb-style holiday rentals, have vowed to make the politicians pay…
Roundup: Radio Flat Chat – listen to it right here
It’s not exactly a media frenzy but, having been on TV last week, I was on ABC radio this week – and this time, I was talking about strata living.…