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…
Chandler
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…
Podcast: Insure bets and hot seat questions
I know we already have two posts up on the website but we couldn’t let the news that an insurer is going to offer a 10-year warranty on new apartment…
Ten-year building warranty is a strata game changer
COMMENT: A crucial element in the NSW apartment building revolution has arrived with the first of the big insurers prepared to take a punt on Chandler’s five-star reforms. As we…
Podcast: Chandler talks about older blocks
Co-podder Sue Williams and I took ourselves off to the Owners Corporation Network’s 20th anniversary event last week and it turned out to be a very revealing evening indeed. OK,…
Building insurers back in the apartment game
When Building Commissioner David Chandler told us that his shake-up of new building standards in NSW would lead to a return of insurers providing cover for new apartment builds, there…
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…
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…
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…