QUESTION:  A year or so ago I did some work on my rented apartment – including painting, installing shelves and some basic maintenance – in lieu of a few weeks rent. My landlord has changed agents and the new guy has inspected the place and says it’s worth a lot more in rental (now that [...]

Pressure selling, the blight of the apartment boom a decade ago, is back with us, it seems.  The question is, are we going to make the same mistakes all over again? QUESTION:  I am interested in a new development in the Eastern suburbs and I’m thinking of buying off the plan.  I have paid a [...]

QUESTION: The owners in our building have just cut the concierge services so they can reduce their levies,  meaning that not only do we no longer have 24-hour security, we have had access to the gym, swimming pool, roof garden and loading bay reduced by several hours a day A couple of weeks ago you [...]

QUESTION: The Executive Committee at our complex has received an application from a resident to install a doggy door on to their balcony.  Our building manager has told us we can give them permission if we create an exclusive use by-law. Are we able to do this or do we have to adhere to the [...]

QUESTION: I’m leaving my apartment to move somewhere closer to work, I’ve given my notice and everything is fine.  The problem is, with the cost of moving house, buying a few bits and pieces of furniture and putting down a bond and rent in advance for the new place,  I’m hitting a cash-flow problem.  Is [...]

QUESTION: A slim majority on our executive committee want to introduce a new by-law to prevent owners making any internal structural renovations to their units because recent work done was noisy and the chairman says there are now cracks in his apartment walls. Some of us are against this as there are several units that [...]

QUESTION: One of our neighbours has young children who play noisily in the common areas on a regular basis. I don’t mind kids playing in the common areas, but these kids just yell and scream constantly. It wakes us up early in the morning and drives us off our balcony because it is impossible to [...]

Noise, nuisance and in-your-face “couldn’t give a stuff” attitude.  Sure, there are some tenants like that but what happens when an owner is the problem and tenants are the victims? QUESTION:  I’ve got a problem in my apartment block with a noisy neighbour who comes home late at night and plays loud music. Whenever I [...]