No more panic evacs from crisis-hit blocks
EXCLUSIVE: The days of immediately ordering all the residents out of blocks, even where major, potentially life-threatening problems have been discovered, could be a thing of the past thanks to…
Forum: Owner’s workers parking in visitor spots
A question that goes back to March this year has been revived, obviously because it hasn’t been resolved. Basically it involves an owner of a commercial property in a strata…
Podcast: Chandler’s rating has starring role
This week’s podcast is mostly (but not entirely) focussed on an announcement we believe is going to change the way we buy apartments in NSW and probably across Australia. Last…
How to fast-track strata conflict resolution
It is generally accepted that our states’ strata dispute systems are slow, frustrating and expensive – but isn’t there a way to provide instant answers before issues become serious problems.…
Forum: Reno costs rocket thanks to new regs
There’s a growing rumble of discontent among strata owners who want to do the right thing but find it comes at a substantial price – sometimes doubling or trebling the…
Podcast: Is history against build-to-rent plans?
OK, it’s our stupid fault for crossing the ditch to New Zealand without taking even our basic recording gear. We could have just about coped and recorded it on our…
How to curb your levies but keep the quality
A few weeks ago we looked at the fancy additions to your apartment block that may be inflating your levies through running and maintenance costs. But there are many ways…
‘Best and worst’ Brisbane investments – claims
If you’re thinking of investing outside of the over-heated Sydney and Melbourne property markets one Brisbane-based expert has identified the city’s best and worst suburbs for investment. And strata-minded potential…
Forum: Rookie reno error and terrible tenants
We have an all-too familiar tale from Victoria (yay!) this week where an owner has decided to take out a load-bearing wall in his flat, in a small, older apartment…
Podcast: Smears and fears as Commish targetted
If NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has served no other function, he earns our respect and gratitude for being a very useful source of entertaining, informative and occasionally horrifying stories.…
Developer accused of Chandler bribe smear
NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler has accused associates of Sydney developer Toplace of trying to discredit him by falsely claiming he asked for a $5 million bribe. Last Wednesday (Sep…
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 –…