Forum: The trouble with renos okayed on the nod
There are a few quibbles this week about changes to common property and what happens if they are made without proper by-laws. Now, in NSW at least, if you need…
Lurid stories behind real ‘Only Murders’ blocks
With a second series of streaming comedy-crime-drama Only Murders in the Building underway, the true stories have emerged of the two famous – if not notorious – New York apartment…
Podcast: Rent bidding ban and too much information
In this our last Flat Chat Wrap podcast of the year, we kick the tyres of a couple of issues that will have consequences throughout strata. Or will they? And…
Chandler backs active lending to boost quality
Just suppose you want to invest in the residential property market but you don’t want to be a landlord, Airbnb host or, even worse, unwitting enabler for dodgy developers. You’re…
Small victory for litigious Victoria strata warrior
An increasingly attractive suggested method for dealing with… let’s call them “persistently critical” owners in a strata scheme has been to try to pass on the cost of strata managers…
Forum: When a disruptive owner Zooms back in
It’s hard to think of a downside for Covid being behind us (if, indeed, it is) but one unanticipated consequence is the end of the need to hold strata meetings…
Owners conned thanks to Qld law loopholes
Queensland strata owners and buyers are being conned by developers, rental agents and management rights operators, claims the state’s Unit Owners Association (UOAQ), and it’s all possible because blocks are…
Podcast: Living the high life and 50,000 listens
What a relief! With Sue back in the podcast saddle, and now that we are very much in holiday season, we can lighten the mood a little – especially since…
Huge flood damage bills flow on to Owners Corps
Water leaks and faulty waterproofing are the bane of strata residents and managements’ lives. Modern buildings are designed to withstand a fair amount of rain but the recent downpours across…
Rent bidding ban will give tenants a fairer go
As of this weekend, NSW estate agents and landlords will be breaking the law if they suggest to potential tenants that they can secure a property if they offer more…
Forum: Crack in wall exposes gaps in the law
Sometimes I think the policy wonks who devise the rules by which we are supposed to run our strata lives deliberately throw in little quirks and nuances just to make…
Deadline looms for cladding aid program
NSW strata schemes that have flammable cladding on their walls have just over a week left to register for the state government’s Project Remediate program which offers affected buildings interest-free…