Tenancy advice
Different states have different residential tenancy laws and very different access to advice, especially for tenants. Our first stop for advice is often the Tenants Union or equivalent (if it…
Press Release: Landlords do the right thing
Three out of four Aussie tenants are happy with their landlords Wednesday, 31 July 2013: Contradicting the common stereotype of the nightmare landlord, a recent survey* by domain.com.au has found that…
Call to dob in dodgy floor sellers
Strata owners given false information on timber or tiled floors – which can lead to them having to rip up or re-carpet their new floors – are being urged to…
Agent’s hot air over mouldy flat
When Flat Chat reader Melissaimee told her rental agent that there was terrible mould in her flat, he had a brilliant idea … she and her partner should leave a…
Deceptive conduct – Interstate Links
There are no guarantees that a deceptive and misleading conduct case against dodgy flooring sales people will get a run but at least we know that Fair Trading in NSW…
Strata smokers face $5,500 fines
Smokers can be banned from puffing away inside their own homes if it affects other residents, and face fines of up to $5,500 if they don’t quit. That’s the legal…
Why your sinking fund costs you money
It used to be that, if you hadn’t squirreled away sufficient cash in your sinking fund, special levies were the only way of raising finance for big projects. But Lannock…
Out-of-date by-laws mean pet bans will stay
Dog and cat owners in apartments and townhouses need to sit and stay. It could take decades for the proposed changes to the standard by-laws to make any difference to…
Strata voting in different states
I have said many time in these pages that when you look at the different strata legislation in different parts of Australia, you could easily reach the conclusion that in…
Barry’s magic garden goes under concrete
They’re paving paradise and putting up – well, it’s not a parking lot but it’s a 60-unit apartment block with underground parking for 30 cars. An intriguing inner-city idiosyncratic garden…
Window smash leads to excess grab
A young man walks through a glass door on to his balcony. It shatters and he gets away with a few cuts. The question is, who’s responsible? “It was a…
Fines, damages and arrest threat as tenant flees noise
A battle between two landlords could see them both in court and one tenant under arrest after her constant noise has driven her downstairs neighbour out of her home. “I…