Roundup: Something fishy when they say we live like sardines
I’m not one to jump on Nimbys (Not In My Back Yard) – most of us think there should be shelters for the homeless, and…
The Wrap podcast – on air with James Valentine
About once a month I trundle down to the ABC studios in Ultimo, Sydney, for an on-air chat with James Valentine. Last week we discussed…
How to rid your committee of control freaks and clowns
Having lived in apartments in Australia for 30 years, I have encountered every kind of dubious committee office-holder, from the corrupt bully to the incompetent…
‘Disabled’ lawyer demands extra strata parking spot
QUESTION of the WEEK Every so often we get a story sent to the Forum that deserves wider recognition. This one features one of those…
Who are your strata saints and sinners for 2018?
It’s that time of year when Santa has to decide who’s been naughty and who’s been nice. And here in Flat Chat Central we were…
Failed parking ban costs owners a truckload of cash
With car parking, pets and noise continuing as the three top irritants to apartment-dwellers, it’s amazing to what lengths some people will go to try…
Labor to introduce Airbnb register, halving listings
The NSW Labor party is likely to introduce compulsory registrations of Airbnb-style short-term holiday lets (STHL), if it wins power at next year’s state election. And…
Roundup: Cladding and parking top your responses
Our invitation in our last newsletter for you to suggest new topics for us to write about brought a few suggestions. That’s not to say…
Party on! It’s time to forget your differences
If you aren’t over Christmas already, maybe you should think about having a Christmas party for your block. Although the combination of alcohol and people…
The Wrap podcast: Parking, popular pet names, and Airbnb
We’re back in Australia this week, with a story about a conflict that couldn’t be more Aussie. Sue Williams takes us through her yarn about…
Roundup: Your strata questions take the cake again
There’s so much going on in the website this week that having a Roundup at all seems like icing on a very big cake ……
Proper Charlies: guess the top names for cats and dogs
It’s been a good year for pets in Australian apartments. NCAT has started bouncing unfair anti-pet by-laws in NSW and tenants with pets can’t be…
How to be a better Airbnb host … no … really!
Regular readers of this column (thank you both) will know that I am not the biggest fan of Airbnb, nor they of me. Let’s just…
Resident owners’ report slams holiday letting laws
The peak body representing apartment owners in NSW has blasted the incoming short-term holiday letting laws as “excessively generous” to holiday letting hosts and a…
Will cook and clean … for a room in your home
Take people who don’t have enough time on their hands to do basic domestic duties … but own one of seven million spare rooms believed…
The Wrap podcast: From homeless to renting, USA-style
This week’s Wrap podcast topics could hardly be more different. In one we discuss what you can do when a homeless person takes shelter in…
Roundup: Rent bond rollover is a tonic for tenants
The big news this week is … innkeepers will no longer be responsible for their guests horses and saddlery. Seriously, some government reforms and removals…
Capital offences: Gentrification opens door to … guess who
LETTER FROM WASHINGTON DC There’s an interesting process underway in the US capital and it’s something with which we are familiar with here in…