Forum: Tribunal rubber stamps illegal extension
For those of us who believe in law and logic, strata can be a bit challenging sometimes. Take Flatchatter Anne-X whose two top-floor neighbours took advantage of work in the…
defects
Strata insurers must not forget a horrible history
There’s a statement about a proposal to invite insurance firms to provide building warranties for new apartment blocks – but only those constructed by the best builders – which may…
Podcast: See you soon … on your CCTV screens
Exactly who gets to view the recording from your strata scheme’s CCTV cameras? That’s a topic that’s been keeping us occupied on the Flat Chat Forum and now gets an…
Insurance plan to drive out dodgy developers
The best and most reliable apartment developers will soon be able to get construction insurance, for the first time in Australia for nearly 20 years, writes Sue Williams. And that…
Podcast: Chandler reveals true defects challenge
In this week’s podcast we hear the voice of defect rectification in NSW as David Chandler takes to the airwaves to explain why two different surveys have revealed that about…
On brink of evacuation after defects warning
A perfect storm of disagreeing experts, extreme caution, genuine fears for safety and an earthquake, took an apartment block to the brink of being evacuated last week. Add in concerns…
Report reveals extent of unit block defects
For the past two years or more, a team of top academics based at UNSW’ s City Futures Research Centre has been investigating defective apartment construction in NSW. In a…
Podcast: Defects detective Chandler’s candid chat
We have something of a star guest on this week’s podcast. Sue Williams, our regular co-host, has allowed us to dip into her recordings of her interview with Building Commissioner…
Hi-viz commish kicking butt and naming names
To some, he’s a knight in shining armour, a hero in a hi-viz. To others, he’s the devil incarnate. But wherever anyone might stand on the subject of rampaging NSW…
Would you advise a friend not to buy off the plan?
There was a survey of 500 apartment blocks conducted earlier this year by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler’s team. It found that more than one-third of new buildings had serious…
Podcast: Defects detected and pets rejected
In this week’s podcast we chat about a report which reveals that one-third of 500 unit blocks inspected in a survey had serious defects, from leaking bathrooms, to fire safety…
Podcast: Pets to lets – 200 columns and counting
How has apartment living in Australia changed in the past four years? The answer is a lot, but still too little. This week, we celebrate our 200th column in the…