Podcast: Strata lawyer answers Forum questions
In this week’s podcast we ask leading strata lawyer David Sachs to run the rule over some of the questions in our Forum. For instance, can the owners corporation charge…
Reply To: Installation of a Chair Lift on Common Property Stairs
Dear Actyve, The OC is going to approve the Acorn Stairlift. Main rationale: We understand the OC has an ‘legal’ obligation under elements of the Anti-discrimination Act (Disabled persons) (not…
Forum: Developer turns block into Airbnb hotel
What happens when a developer can’t sell all their apartments so then lists them on Airbnb? Are they running an illegal short-term rental hotel? And didn’t their sales people tell…
SCA appoints complaints tsar but the lies persist
Strata Community Association has announced the appointment of an independent complaints tsar, in the wake of the scandal over Netstrata’s exposure for charging secret commissions for insurance policies. But, despite…
NSW to crack down on strata manager scams
The NSW State government is planning to crack down on the “small number” of “unscrupulous” strata managers whom it says are undermining public confidence in apartment living. New laws will…
Reply To: Request for motion in AGM general business ignored
TrulEConcerned wrote: @StuMcL Was your case a situation where the SM or OC initiated proceedings? In my case the OC defended an action and the strata policy covers defence, subject…
Should we let micro-blocks ignore strata law?
In this week’s guest post from our friend Francesco Andreone of GoStrata, he wonders if it’s time to think differently about micro strata buildings. There’s a lot of them, they…
Reply To: Insurance premiums raised due to Airbnbs
Just as an observation, increasing the insurance premiums because there are Airbnbs in the block makes perfect sense. Wear and tear and damage is likely to increase and with a…
Reply To: Insurance premiums raised due to Airbnbs
A year ago in NSW I asked one owner if he’ll pony up the additional premium if we renew the strata insurance noting he is engaged in STHL. My inquiries…
Podcast: Tax fixer-uppers and strata spies
The tax office is targetting double-dipping landlords who claim all sorts of things they shouldn’t, or just claim for stuff the wrong way.For instance, property investors routinely claim levies as a tax…
ATO targets double-dip landlords and tax fixers
As we hurtle towards the end of the financial year, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) is warning rental property owners that their tax returns are in the spotlight this time…
Can developers fix their defective reputations?
We have written a lot in these pages about efforts by the NSW Building Commission to ensure defects in new apartment buildings are fixed, in part using the iCIRT star…