Hard lesson for defiant timber floor couple
If you are in a block where your upstairs neighbours have installed a hard floor and their stomps, clomps, thuds and scrapes are driving you mad, you might take heart…
SMs turn against Qld’s pre-sold contracts
Imagine if you bought a new car and you were told you were now contractually obliged to have it serviced by a certain mechanic, on their terms, for the next…
Forum: Slow strata dispute system needs quick fix
Remember the bad old days when we used to complain about the CTTT having a tin ear when it came to strata complaints. Back in the day, it often seemed…
Podcast: Waterproof woes and Brisbane’s boom
The issue we raised last week rumbles on with experienced waterproofers claiming they are being driven out of the industry in NSW while engineers and builders line up to take…
Another builder opts for the brain drain
The whole question of why experienced waterproofers are being allowed to leave the building industry has generated a lot of comment. Here one 14-year veteran explains what the challenges are…
Zoominar tackles building facilities management
Does your apartment block need a building manager? Do you have one but don’t know what he or she does? Do you even know what a building manager is and…
Costs and delays behind renovation war of words
As we often say here, apartment living can be a minefield of unintended consequences. And it even sees battles in which neither of two diametrically opposed forces are wrong. It…
Forum: ‘Not our problem’ by-law has huge flaw
Here’s a neat trick by a strata committee determined that owners should not take responsibility for anything in the building – potentially saving themselves a lot of dough. They have…
Podcast: A load of rubbish and advice for Jackie O
This week we look at how one of the greatest conveniences in apartment blocks could be not only costing you money but undermining efforts at recycling. The humble garbage chute…
Water-proofing expert quits over new law
Last week a builder and waterproofer emailed us in despair. New regulations make it almost impossible for him to continue doing the work he’s been performing efficiently and effectively for…
Do we chute ourselves in the foot with garbage?
Here’s a brain-teaser for apartment residents – there may be a sign in your block that says “no bottles, newspapers, coat hangers, cigarettes, umbrellas or brooms.” What’s it for? The…
Forum: Dog runs free around shared pool
There are few things more likely to get strata residents’ noses out of joint than inconsiderate neighbours with an overdeveloped sense of entitlement. Not only did a couple move out…