Roundup: $130k legal bill for a lawless committee
It was back in April that Whoopi wrote to us about her legal battles with her committee which at that stage had cost her $30,000 and she expected to go…
committee
Roundup: How to get rid of rusted-on office-bearers
One of the perennial problems discussed in the Flat Chat Forum is the issue of rusted-on office-bearers who aren’t performing all that well but won’t let anyone else’s hands anywhere…
Roundup: Elevated anger over lifts that never arrive
Ever wondered why you always seem to be waiting ages for the lifts in your building? Maybe the lady upstairs is holding it for her partner while he hunts for…
Can by-laws be used to silence angry owners?
The irresistible force meets the immovable object – that’s how intractable internal conflicts in strata schemes are often characterised. But a more accurate description might be the megaphone meets the…
Strata bullies and how to shut them up
How do you stop a loud-mouthed bully from dominating a strata committee? You know the type; they assume their way is the only way and shout and scream like a…
New strata laws, same old dirty tricks
Now that the holidays are out of the way, the first of the year’s AGMs will soon be upon us. That will be the first time most of us will…
21 strata law changes you really need to know
By Jimmy Thomson There are more than 90 changes to the strata laws that come into force in NSW on November 30. Here are the 21 that will affect you…
Roundup: Bullies in the block
One of the fundamental problems with living in strata is the fact that we can’t get away from our neighbours and if they decide to make our lives more difficult,…
Holding out for a hero: 5 bad strata chairs
As we go to the polls to choose our national leaders, it may be a good time to consider who we elect as strata chairs. We all need a hero. Someone who…
Strata voting goes hi-tech – and old school – in new regs
Flat Chat with Jimmy Thomson A significant lurch towards strata democracy was revealed last week with proposed regulations allowing participation in meetings by people who need not be in the…
RANT: How to train your strata committee
We had a small panic attack the other day when we couldn’t find the link to Strata Community Australia’s online executive committee training program. This is a fantastic facility that…
Dear idiot: How to manage angry emails
When is a determined owner an email pest? Or, to put it another way, how do you tell the difference between someone with a legitimate complaint, who won’t let it…