Would you advise a friend not to buy off the plan?
There was a survey of 500 apartment blocks conducted earlier this year by NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler’s team. It found that more than one-third of new buildings had serious…
defects
Podcast: Defects detected and pets rejected
In this week’s podcast we chat about a report which reveals that one-third of 500 unit blocks inspected in a survey had serious defects, from leaking bathrooms, to fire safety…
Podcast: Pets to lets – 200 columns and counting
How has apartment living in Australia changed in the past four years? The answer is a lot, but still too little. This week, we celebrate our 200th column in the…
How Flat Chat grew from a bitter defects battle
Believe it or not, the 200th edition of Flat Chat to appear in the Australian Financial Review was published at the weekend. But that’s not half of it – not…
Block ban lifted as 20-year guarantee is signed
Developers and real estate agents are free to market and sell apartments in the controversial Skyview apartment block in Castle Hill, with NSW Building Commission lifting the Prohibition Order on…
Podcast: Social housing a Sirius miscalculation
As we emerge from our “close contact” self-isolation we are probably going to have to go back into hiding after the selfie we took of ourselves still at work, despite…
Commissioner to expose defect-dodging owners
Owners who deliberately hide building defects could be the next targets of Building Commissioner David Chandler, with defective buildings and their owners corporations potentially being named and shamed, just as…
Off-the-plan defects targetted by new law
NSW apartment buyers can have greater confidence in their off-the-plan purchases under new laws that came into effect last week (July 1), claims the state government. New laws mean that…
Agents silent about defects orders on units
If you were wondering what the point of a Property Services Commissioner was – the new position having been announced this month by NSW Better Regulation Minister Kevin Anderson –…
Black mould from leaky balcony in nose swab
Hidden defects aren’t just about feeling cheated when you buy a new apartment, they could have serious consequences for your health, as SUE WILLIAMS discovered in this story for Domain.…
Podcast: Boom town and band-aids for buildings
This week in the podcast Sue Williams is in Darwin on an assignment, and finds that not only is Darwin the hottest city in Australia temperature-wise (probably … apart from…
Developer of 1400 units facing defects claims
They say no publicity is bad publicity but you’d be forgiven for thinking the directors of Sydney developers Toplace Group would be happy to shuffle out of the limelight right…