Students flattened

I was recently asked on a radio show how students can get rental properties when rents are so high and vacancies are so low. I said landlords prefer people who…

Suburban strife

It’s a familiar tale.  A friend has a neighbour who got a dog which was very territorial and would bark all day when its owners were out at work.  It…

No-name shame

THIS COLUMN WAS BASED ON AN EDITED VERSION OF A DISCUSSION THAT ORIGINATED IN THE FLAT CHAT FORUM.  YOU CAN SEE ALL THE EXCHANGES IN FULL – AND JOIN IN…

Party plan

QUESTION:  My apartment has good views of the fireworks so my friends have decided I’ll be having parties at Christmas and New Year.  I get on OK with my neighbours…

What makes strata tick

What issue do you think takes up most of your executive committee members’ time? Disputes over levies? Smoking and smells? The headline-grabbing issue of laundry on balconies? A survey by…

Flood tests tenants

QUESTION: Recently the drain in our ensuite bathroom floor (not the shower) overflowed and flooded the main bedroom and all down the hallway. The carpets were ripped up and slow…

Fears over loan arranger

QUESTION: I’m chairman of a Seventies block of 30 flats that requires major work on internal and external cracking. We have had many quotes from engineers over many years and…

Two’s company

QUESTION: My flatmate and I have shared for years and we’ve both had friends, family or lovers stay over for a few nights, but nothing regular. However, I really don’t…

Double dipper

QUESTION:  My landlord parks his car in my space when I’m at work so he can use the building’s pool and gym.  Sometimes I come home to find he’s still…

Old blocks, new regs

NB:  This topic was originally posted as “Old Buildings, New Regs” (below) before being selected as a Flat Chat topic. QUESTION: Our strata building is approximately 40 years  and it…

Fair shares

QUESTION: My flatmate and I have been getting on really well but a couple of months ago she moved her boyfriend into her room on what seems to be a…