Forum: Noisy floors and illicit land grabs
There are a couple of hardy perennials in our Forum garden this week; complaints that are so commonplace – both in their spread and how often they come up –…
Podcast: When crims become dodgy developers
It’s hardly a true crime podcast but this week, inspired by connections made in the press between the relatives of property developers and their friends with police records, we wade…
Development industry reforms ‘back on track’
After weeks of turmoil in NSW Fair Trading and in the Building and Property services commissioners’ offices, in particular, the loud and clear message is not so much “business as…
Body corp in poo over blocked pipe claim
A recent case concerning a blocked sewage pipe that flooded an apartment has left a Queensland body corporate in the poo, exploded a myth about strata insurance and highlighted a…
Forum: Insurers will only pay for half of fence
Another week, another weird question – at least, it’s a question about weird behaviour by strata owners. Here’s the scenario. A car goes out of control and smashes the fence…
Podcast: a Perrottet and Petinos poser
Look, we know it’s all done and dusted. David Chandler has re-extended his contract as NSW Building Commissioner, John Minns is back as Property Services Commissioner and Victor Dominello has…
How to save strata cash … and the planet
Want to do your bit to save the planet AND save your owners a chunk of money? City of Sydney has extended the deadline for their Smart Green Apartments program…
Lose the luxury and save loads on levies
Blame it on overseas holidays to posh hotels or trips to serviced apartments in Surfers and the Gold Coast, but there was a trend in apartment block design a few…
Chandler back as both commissioners return
Dodgy developers can re-cork their champagne – NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler is back in the saddle, ready to fulfil his extended contract until August next year. And while the…
Areas where apartment prices are going up!
The Australian property market has become a stomach-churning game of swings and roundabouts that’s still seeing prices soar for units in some areas – and dropping steeply in others. If…
Forum: One block vetoes majority motion
There’s a storm brewing at a multi-block community scheme where the committee is at odds with its secretary, the secretary sends a proxy to meetings and the strata manager seems…
Podcast: Council to hire a professional nimby
In this week’s podcast we are going to discuss the local council that’s going to pay someone $100,000 a year to help residents fight high rise developments. It’s the least…