Back to the future with company title flats
Before strata titles existed, most apartments were company title schemes. Many survive today despite the generally perceived advantages of strata title. Why? And are they a genuine alternative way to…
Micro apartments are a big deal for renters
A build-to-rent micro-apartment block is getting rave reviews from its first residents and catching the attention of politicians desperate to find solutions for the dire lack of affordable housing in…
Forum: Are no-pets by-laws back by stealth?
Here’s a blast from the past: A Flatchatter is thinking of buying into a strata villa and has discovered it has a “no pets” by-law. “Weren’t they outlawed after the…
Podcast: Balcony singer in strata soap opera
The Podcast takes a musical twist this week when we discuss the ear-bending plight of residents of four apartment blocks in Eastwood who have been subjected to – or privileged…
None shall sleep when strata Pavarotti pipes up
It’s one of the most famous arias in opera, but Nessun Dorma – it means “none shall sleep” – could apply to shift workers, restless babies and Sunday afternoon nappers…
Forum: Neighbour stung by selfish beekeeper
Our main Forum question this week relates to behaviour that pretty much typifies the “me first” attitude that really does not belong in strata, One owner in a townhouse scheme…
Video nasty exposes nightmare on Easy Street
Ready to see something really awful? It’s a cross between a video nasty version of The Block and a horror film they could call Nightmare on Easy Street. Once again…
Renters: How the other half (just about) lives
Half of all Australian strata apartments are investment properties that are tenanted. Strata renters must follow all the strata laws, by laws and rules but they have almost no strata…
Podcast: All the buzz about embedded networks
This week’s podcast is mostly devoted to embedded networks, what they are, why they can be good or bad, and what you can do to make them work for your…
Forum: Oil leak exposes hole in strata know-how
It’s fair to say that most if not all of the problems in strata come down to lack of knowledge (or ignorance, if you want to be brutal). If one…
Podcast: Chandler’s changing strata challenges
The only story in strata in the past week has been the decision by Building Commissioner David Chandler to hang up his hard hat and retire in August. So we thought…
Top thinkers at strata-fest, with added JimmyT
Ever wondered if there’s a better way of managing dysfunctional committees or disruptive committee members? Would an organisational psychologists’ advice help? How about keeping up with changes to strata law,…