Roundup: The only independent lobby group for strata owners and residents
Every little niche of our society seems to have its own pressure group, lobbyists or even political party. So why don’t we? After all, according to the stats in the…
strata
Strata data: the facts of life for apartment dwellers
Guess how many people live in apartments in Australia. Actually, you don’t need to – it’s just over 2.2 million and a smidge less than 10 percent of the whole…
Just what we need – another crowd cashes in on the Airbnb boom
We received a press release last week from a UK-based company called Airsorted. They are promising to make it easier for you to let out – sorry, “share” – your…
‘Business as usual’ for Airbnb by-laws, says strata lawyer
With the announcement two weeks ago that legislation is going to be changed, allowing owners corporations to pass by-laws forbidding owners from listing their entire apartments on holiday letting websites,…
Roundup: Whingers – nails on the chalkboard of bureaucracy
The other day I came across a paid-for strata advice service that said it offered an alternative to scouring the web for the opinions of serial whingers. It made me…
Strata battles: Know when it’s time to stop fighting
Q: What’s the phrase that lawyers love to hear most? A: ‘It’s a matter of principle.’ Yes, even better than ‘you win’, according to that old joke, a battle fought…
Roundup: Airbnb’s MP mates offer a crumb of discomfort
Finally we get the Government’s short-term letting laws – or at least the proposals – and they turn out to be little more than a “surrender tackle” on Airbnb with a half-hearted and…
False economies: Beware the lure of low levies
It sounds too good to be true: buy an off-the-plan apartment with a heated pool, professional gym, 24-hour concierge and a residents’ sauna – and it comes with the promise of the lowest levies in the area. Who…
Roundup: When the strata manager took his teeth out
A bumper set of Forum links this week signals an uptick in interest in all things strata – and reminds that there are so many people out there who don’t…
Are these the most hated people in strata?
If there are two groups in strata who cop the most grief from residents, it would have to be strata managers and rental agents. In the case of the…
Pressure tells as time runs out on holiday lets
With the government ducking its promised announcement this week on new laws on short term holiday rentals, it may be that they think there may be more of a backlash…
One simple way to sack your strata chair
Strata stories are often like slapstick comedy – hilarious … provided you’re not the one lying face down in the custard. Recently Flat Chat fielded a question from a…