Rotting Victorian strata calls for a champion
Here in Sydney we have often wondered why we didn’t hear too much about defects in Victorian apartment blocks. Was it because they built better buildings there? How about, maybe…
Podcast: Power grabs and fraudsters – two rants
This week’s podcast is short but not very sweet (despite it being our 200th). Sue is away in the UK, which allows me to vent about a couple of issues…
Airbnb by-laws – holiday gifts to your schemes
With the weather being unpredictable these days, there are other sure signs that summer is on the way; Christmas music is flooding our shops, decorations are popping up everywhere and…
Old by-laws could be bad news for flat hunters
When was the last time you looked at your strata scheme’s by-laws? If you are like most people, you might have glanced at them when you bought the unit or…
Schoolies are coming home … to your place!
Apartment owners, residents, committees and managers should be ready to crack down on unruly schoolies in apartment blocks, say strata advocates, as senior students celebrate their end of terms. Apartments,…
Podcast: Trouble with the Hub is TLI – too little info
Are you feeling under-exposed and ill-informed? That may be because the much-vaunted NSW strata data Hub doesn’t tell anyone who doesn’t already know stuff very much about your apartment blocks…
Introducing a voice of reason from Queensland
As we never tire of saying on this website, there are almost as many differences between strata law in separate states as there are similarities. So we are pleased to…
Forum: ‘Free’ votes give developer total control
We have a few fascinating questions on the Forum this week but the most intriguing one concerns a new, staged development where the developer has managed to hang on to…
Podcast: Political pleas and battle for the soul of Bondi
It’s a longer than usual podcast this week so strap yourselves in. Firstly we look at the Owners Corporation Network’s (OCN) 10-point manifesto which they have announced leading up to…
Noisy flooring flaws exposed by bodged reno
Here’s a story that will bring a smile to the faces of anyone who has ever suffered the thuds and thumps of an upstairs neighbour who has put down a…
Confusion rules: Design and Building Act explained
When it came to tightening quality control of building work, it was always likely that the new NSW Design and Building and Practitioners Act would have unintended consequences. The Act…
Forum: Sneaky secretary swapped EGM motions
Strata chairs and secretaries can get very sneaky when it comes to manipulating votes. One FlatChatter discovered this when he proposed some expenditure on physical security for an Extraordinary General…