Case study comments make compelling reading
The chilling narrative detailing how a relatively modest defects claim blew out from a ban on residents going on their balconies into a $2million legal fight makes compelling reading. However,…
Forum: Early eviction landlord hung out to dry
There’s a fine mixed bag of questions and complaints in this week’s forum – from an early rental eviction attempt to a plan to scrap a laundry drying area. A…
Affordable or sustainable – can’t we have both?
Climate change deniers aside, most people agree that taking steps towards sustainability in an effort to curb global heating is a desirable aim. Meanwhile, opportunist property investors excluded, there is…
Podcast: Study reveals $2m in defective thinking
When NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler commissioned a case study into what happened when serious defects were discovered in a new block’s balconies, it revealed a trail of denials, delays,…
Levies debts: Who suffers when you can’t pay?
As the financial screws start to tighten on individuals, it’s interesting to see what they are prepared to sacrifice just to stay afloat in the cost of living crunch. For…
Forum: All the views, news and blues that fit
There’s been a lot of activity on the Flat Chat Forum in the past week although it’s mostly been back and forth on earlier questions (but none of them as…
Podcast: Lawyer in the hot seat, part two
This week we bring you the second part of strata lawyer David Bannerman’s Q&A session, with Flat Chat’s JimmyT asking the questions sent by Flat Chat readers and Bannerman Lawyers’…
Later deadline for help with recent-build defects
Okay, you can stop panicking … for now. If your strata committee hasn’t applied for help with new or recent block building defects through the NSW government’s Project Intervene, the…
Forum: Vexed question of in-house sex workers
There’s an arcane set of laws around both working from home in apartment buildings and about where sex workers can ply their trade. As far as working from home goes,…
Strata peace and harmony start with respect
Julie McLean, President of the Victorian branch of Strata Community Australia, addresses the problem of bullying in strata schemes – and what we can do when verbal push comes to…
Demand for sustainable units unmet, says report
Australian apartment block developers need to build more sustainable buildings that appeal to the demands of a wider variety of longer-term buyers, including owner occupiers, ‘Build-to-rent’ investors and social housing…
Podcast: Strata lawyer answers your questions
There’s a change of pace in the Flat Chat Wrap this week as we replay the first 30 minutes of our online chat with leading strata lawyer David Bannerman.Jimmy was…