From the Forum – is working from home legal?
With more of us working from home, a fairly obvious question has been raised – is it legal? And the answer is … probably yes, possibly no. The critical issue,…
laws
Podcast 64: New rent laws but same old story with point-scoring pollies
In this week’s Podcast, Jimmy and Sue examine the plusses and minuses in the new NSW rental laws, which tilt things in tenants’ favour but don’t go all the way.…
New rental laws give tenants more rights
New laws for residential tenancies are about to come into force in NSW, with their general thrust being to make like better for renters. Given that more than half the…
Podcast: Why strata law changes are such a painfully long time coming
When it comes to strata law reform, it can be a long time between drinks. Victoria is just at the end of the public consultation stage of their very substantial…
Flat Chat Wrap #22 – New Vic laws, fire sprinklers, electric cars, greyhounds in flats and BBQs
There’s a revolution in strata law on the way in Victoria. Fire sprinkler systems are mandatory for mid-rise apartment blocks in NSW. And what’s the best way to charge electric…
Vic strata laws set for massive shake-up
This column has often said how wonderful it would be if all the states had similar strata laws – not just to make it easier for people moving interstate, but…
Flat Chat Wrap #20 – New minister, good and bad laws, and the pet loophole
JimmyT and Sue Williams ask the big questions about the new strata minister … like, who is he? Plus the best and worst of Australia’s strata laws and what makes…
When ‘common sense’ makes no sense at all
Common sense, that good old standby we apply to any dilemma, however complex, is the thinking equivalent of comfort food: it makes you feel better now but causes problems later.…
Quiz: Who are the Airbnb hosts with the most?
Airbnb could be the best thing that ever happened to you since you moved into an apartment … or it could be the worst. You could be one of those…
Airbnb: NSW backflips while Vic bends over
It was neither the best of times, nor the worst of times – that was all happening in Canberra – but the last two weeks have seen the parliaments of…
Sydney MP’s ‘quasi-hotel’ fears for city apartment blocks
Alex Greenwich, Independent Member for Sydney, welcomed moves towards a model that would give apartment communities some say on short term letting in their buildings, but said that changes do…
New Airbnb laws come with ’empty flat’ escape clause
After several false starts the NSW government has released its proposed changes to planning laws that will take the current restrictions off online holiday letting platforms like Airbnb. And while…