From the Forum: Bans on unfinancial votes even tougher than you thought
We’re back! Like that never-ending turkey curry or the last few chocolates that nobody likes, there are quite a few left-overs from the festive season for us to get our…
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Stage a strata revolt without being revolting
There was a popular saying around at the end of the last century – “don’t get mad, get even”. However, as I often ask people who write to the Flat…
Beware the ratchet effect of bad by-laws
A ratchet is a brilliantly simple piece of engineering: easy to turn in one direction – almost impossible to go the other way. The “ratchet effect” when applied to by-laws,…
Strata challenges get residents talking votes
It has been said in many ways, many times, but there is a fundamental truth in politics: if you want people to unite, give them a common enemy. So it…
Roundup: Huge cost of small debt … and your questions
A friend received an email from his strata committee treasurer the other day. He was $7 behind in his levies for his flat. It was no big deal, just an…
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…
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…
Roundup: After you’ve voted on same-sex marriage …
Cast your vote in the Flat Chat poll on whether or not our strata committees should speak on our behalf. It’s interesting watching the discussions over same sex marriage and…
Proxy block: Get ready for online voting
All over Strataland, you can hear the wails of distress as desperate proxy vote hoarders look into the abyss of the new laws and the introduction of electronic voting. On…
Apps, chats and stats drive strata revolution
Just in time for the new laws allowing online meeting and votes, Jimmy Thomson learns about a strata management revolution promised in a $16 million joint effort. Smartphone apps that transmit…
Tenants in, strata ‘presidents’ out, in vote shake-up
This first appeared in the Domain section of the SMH on July 25, 2015 In the raft of more than 90 proposed changes to NSW strata law released a couple…