Forum: Stalemate, power plays and an even split
At any level of politics it can be hugely frustrating when the numbers on both sides are equal. With everyone in their respective trenches, it can take a casting vote…
lawyer
Top strata lawyer joins calls for Covid-19 vigilance
Strata communities are becoming dangerously complacent in the face of highly transmissible new variants of the virus, according to a leading strata expert. Lawyer, strata specialist and long-time friend of…
In strife but can’t even afford a lawyer’s letter?
We should never underestimate the power of a lawyer’s letter, especially in a strata dispute. At the very least, it lets the recipients know what the law is and, importantly,…
The Forum: Give bogus, bullying by-laws the boot
There’s a nasty by-law floating around various strata schemes these days – I say nasty because whatever its intent was, it’s having the effect of discouraging owners from challenging their…
Podcast 74: Bully for you – how aggressive should strata lawyers be?
What is a strata lawyer’s job? That’s the question we ask in the Flat Chat Wrap podcast this week. Is it to find a reasonable solution, based on strata law,…
The claim game – detecting defects is just the beginning
You’ve just bought into a new apartment block and cracks have started to appear, or the roof leaks when it rains, or the fire safety measures wouldn’t stop a tea…
From the Forum: False economy in dodging legal fees
There’s been some discussion about whether or not you can take a neighbour to court for compensation when their noisy renovation work has driven out your tenants. You can take…
Hold on – help is closer than you think
It doesn’t matter how long you’ve lived in strata or whether you are a resident or a committee member, sooner or later you are going to need to ask for…
When you can sue over loss of rent due to renos
We’ve had a lot of discussion recently about whether or not owners can claim compensation for things like loss of rent when renovations – either by individual owners or by…
Hypothetical: Are Airbnb by-laws worth a legal battle?
Things had gone quiet on the Airbnb front, with both NSW and Victorian policy wonks scribbling away on new legislation to deal with online short-term letting. But thanks to one…
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…
Four-year fight shuts door on inspection that never was
A NSW Owners Corporation has been forced to meet its common property obligations, after a four year battle with one of the property owners over a sliding door and an…