Roundup: Another fine mess as NCAT floored by loophole
Once again, the Flat Chat Faithful have done us proud by tipping us off to a big deal; this time it’s a story that reveals a fairly major loophole in…
strata
By-laws review: Beware the rusty ratchet effect
Tucked away near the end of the new strata laws that came into force in NSW almost a year ago is a requirement which is being widely ignored but should…
Your chance to speak out on Airbnb in unit blocks
Want to have your say about short-term holiday letting in apartment blocks but feel your voice isn’t being heard? Not sure what to say in a submission to to state…
Roundup: 20,000 reasons anonymity is the best policy
While we have all been off worrying about short-term letting and inflammable cladding, something quite remarkable has happened – the Flat Chat Forum has just quickly ticked over its 20,000th…
Woman who made $13,000 on Airbnb gets by-law overturned
Hold on to your sun-hats! The NSW strata tribunal has overturned a by-law that attempted to ban Airbnb-style holiday lets in a Sydney Eastern Suburbs apartment block. In what’s thought…
Savvy strata seminar to answer burning questions
This event has now been cancelled – tickets will be refunded. Good news for those of you who have been hanging out for Flat Chat Live, it’s not exactly the…
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…
Roundup: Neighbour dug a secret cellar under her flat – then sold it
Just when you think it’s safe to dig through the latest posts to the Flat Chat forum, somebody comes up with a question that makes you go WHAT!?! But then,…
How to avoid buying a high-rise lemon
Flat Chat is now appearing in the Australian Financial Review, both in print and online at weekends. This is the first column in its new home. With recent revelation that…
Roundup: Guess who pays when new cladding task force finds blocks at risk
There we were, sitting down to compose our submissions on holiday letting (again!), when the State government announced its proposals for dealing with inflammable cladding on high-rise blocks. The same…
James Valentine – Airbnb discussion document
The government releases its discussion document on short-term holiday letting. JimmyT and James V discuss
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…