FlatChatters

09/09/2026

Are balconies usually part of common property? I've just looked at our strata plan and to my surprise the balconies are not marked as common property.

Given that, what are the implications if say concrete cancer is found in the building? And does it mean that someone can attach an awning to the wall to the outside of the building within the envelope of the balcony?

We currently have some mis-matched balustrading and we have been planning for some time to replace some of the balustrades so they match. I guess this means each owner pays for their own? And should we remove that project from the Capital Works Plan?

I suddenly feel like everything I thought I knew about strata has been turned on its head.

08/09/2026

Car Park Space Storage Woes This issue is in a commercial building in NSW. One of the owners has multiple parking spaces and over the last few years, has completely filled the spaces with cardboard boxes filled with "stuff". Boxes are pilled on top of each other to at least as tall as an average person. Boxes are not sealed and in some places the contents are just spilling over into a huge pile of mess.

The by-laws in this building do not specifically state that car spaces CANNOT be used for storage or that the spaces ARE ONLY for cars. The owner has promised the strata management and other owners multiple times that removal of this will happen in time but the piles are growing.

The fire inspection company seems to deem it acceptable in terms of fire risk. The strata managers can only request that the boxes be removed but the owner is adamant that they can store whatever they like in their own parking spaces. They have been asked to make sure the boxes are inside the 300mm from the marked lines but even this spills over when the boxes fall over.

It is incredibly unsightly for anyone who cares, and also is a huge negative if/when an owner wants to sell their property. Other concerns involve rodents/pests nesting etc in the mess.

Is there any legal way of trying to get this mess removed. Sadly, I suspect that NCAT is only likely to do anything if the by-laws support our case.

Car Park Space Storage Woes › Forums › Common Property › Current Page This topic is empty. Creator Topic 07/09/2026 at 6:59 pm #85238 MorriganFlatchatter This issue is in a commercial building in NSW. One of the owners has multiple parking spaces and over the last few years, has completely fil...

08/09/2026

Can we claim full costs from broken ankle incident? My partner and I had planned and paid for a trip to Japan, Switzerland (scenic trains) and Hawaii. For my partner it was a once in a lifetime opportunity to be with her 2 daughters as they jointly toured Japan. Our unit block commenced works replacing the floor tiles on the entry to the unit block.

The strata committee used volunteer labour to remove the old tiles right up to unit block entry door. Someone on the comittee had the idea or using a soft rubber matter rather than plywood to cover the now even surface. Emails notified of the works but warning signage and barriers to direct everyone to a safe path was none existent.

Nine days before we were to travel, my partner broke her ankle when she stepped on the matt and found no support. We attended hospital who confirmed ankle was broken. Even with a moonboot on my partner was in considerable she was told to limit any movement. The pain relief tablets could not provide relief for the full 24 hours.

We have been advised we can only claim medical costs against unit block insurance but not transport costs, nothing for the 6 weeks of being in pain, or being disabled for 6 weeks because they can only be claimed for periods beyond 6 months. Can separate legal action be taken against strata for the things we cant claim on insurance?

Can we claim full costs from broken ankle incident? › Forums › Living in strata › Current Page This topic is empty. Creator Topic 04/09/2026 at 7:58 am #85227 Jimmy-TKeymaster My partner and I had planned and paid for a trip to Japan, Switzerland (scenic trains) and Hawaii. For my partner it w...

07/09/2026

News: Be careful what you wish for in property This week’s property news is dedicated to the principle of “be careful what you wish for”. For instance, property prices are falling everywhere except
[See the full original blog post at: News: Be careful what you wish for in property To comment on the post, click on reply here.]

News: Be careful what you wish for in property › Forums › From the Front Page › Current Page This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 4 minutes ago by . Creator Topic 03/09/2026 at 5:42 pm #85200 Jimmy-TKeymaster This week’s property news is dedicated to the principle of “be...

07/09/2026

Window lock inspections Bannerman's has just sent out an update - there will be new regulations in NSW requiring the OC to organise regular window lock inspections. Here we go again - a whole new industry of window-lock inspectors will arise, with ridiculous costs for what they actually do and inflated quotes to provide upgraded locks where required. Annoyed owners having to take time off work for window lock inspections in addition to fire safety inspections. And how many lives were lost last year to people falling out of apartment windows?

Victoria has something similar for a range of safety concerns in strata. Landlords have to confirm that everything meets the required standard before they sign a lease with a new tenant.

More cost = upward pressure on levies = upward pressure on rents. How exactly is this helping with the cost of living?

Window lock inspections › Forums › Common Property › Current Page This topic is empty. Creator Topic 03/09/2026 at 5:27 pm #85190 UberOwnerFlatchatter Bannerman’s has just sent out an update – there will be new regulations in NSW requiring the OC to organise regular window lock inspections...

07/09/2026

New Post: Compulsory strata training wheels look wobbly COMMENT: I’m not sure why NSW Fair Trading doesn’t like Flat Chat although I can think of a number of reasons. I'm pretty sure one of them is our tendency to hold FT’s policies up to the light and point out all the holes.

The latest example is the web page about the proposed compulsory strata committee training which is due to start in October. Now, I have to thank one of our regular Flatchatters from bringing this to my attention, as Fair Trading didn’t bother to tell us about the web page (despite encouraging readers to pass it on to their friends in strata).

Ah, there's the key word: "friends". Well, friends or not, I think compulsory strata committee training is a good idea but, as you will see from this article, I reckon there are a few gaps in the plans.

It's all a bit wishy-washy but I’m guessing that’s because FT didn’t want to scare people. The advice on the Fair Trading web page recommends this and encourages people to do that, and hey, if you are still voting on a committee even though you should have left when you didn’t undertake the training, that’s okay. The decisions will still stand.

It even says specifically that Fair Trading will not take action against committee members who fail to do the online training (which will apparently only take an hour).

In our opinion, there has to be some sort of stick to go with the pureed carrot of these proposals. Nothing too nasty – just a reminder that someone has to take responsibility or face some sort of consequences.

Our suggestion would be to put just a little pressure on strata committee secretaries who are being “encouraged” to check with committee members that they have completed the training.

Strata committee secretaries are the lynchpin in this whole exercise. So if there are people on a committee who should have done the training but haven’t, and the secretary has ignored this, then they should be bumped off the committee too.

The strata training buck has to stop somewhere. It’s a good idea but there has to be an element of genuine compulsion or the whole thing will just fizzle out, like the short-term letting register, tenant representatives on committees and the strata hub.

Ooops, there I go again, pointing out the holes. By the way, another Flatchatter has posted comprehensive notes in a letter from strata commissioner Angus Abadee here. Flatchatters to the rescue, yet again.

This is based on the editorial that went out with last week's Newsletter. https://www.flatchat.com.au/?p=85192

06/09/2026

Compulsory strata training wheels look wobbly COMMENT: I’m not sure why NSW Fair Trading doesn’t like Flat Chat although I can think of a number of reasons. I'm pretty sure one of them is our tend
[See the full original blog post at: Compulsory strata training wheels look wobbly To comment on the post, click on reply here.]

Compulsory strata training wheels look wobbly › Forums › From the Front Page › Current Page This topic is empty. Creator Topic 03/09/2026 at 5:26 pm #85195 Jimmy-TKeymaster COMMENT: I’m not sure why NSW Fair Trading doesn’t like Flat Chat although I can think of a number of reasons. I’m ...

06/09/2026

Updated Post: Quirky: Unfinished Bathla mansion may be a bargain Quirky: Buyer spends $1.66 million on property they’ve never seen, “upsizers” boosted by property slump, and Bathla mansion in limbo. https://www.flatchat.com.au/quirky-unfinished-bathla-mansion-may-be-a-bargain

05/09/2026

New Post: Leaks, floods and claims that don’t hold water Strata laws differ from state to state but there is one universal truth ... a flood in one apartment will surely make its way to another. https://www.flatchat.com.au/?p=85182

05/09/2026

Leaks, floods and claims that don’t hold water Strata laws differ from state to state but there is one universal truth … a flood in one apartment will surely make its way to another.

[See the full original blog post at: Leaks, floods and claims that don't hold water To comment on the post, click on reply here.]

Leaks, floods and claims that don’t hold water › Forums › From the Front Page › Current Page This topic is empty. Creator Topic 03/09/2026 at 12:59 pm #85184 Jimmy-TKeymaster Strata laws differ from state to state but there is one universal truth … a flood in one apartment will surely make...