Parking, pets and parasites Author: Jimmy Thomson Date: 08/07/2006 Publication: Sydney Morning Herald Section: Domain Page: 7
The pleasure and pain of strata living.
Believe it or not, this is the 100th Flat Chat column since we began in 2004. During that time, every tragic aspect of strata life has paraded through these pages.
Noise has been a recurring issue, something noted by an enterprising company that often runs ads for sound-blocking solutions just above this column. Parking has been another source of despair and the best advice we could pass on from the Office of Fair Trading was to install pop-up bollards. Our apartment block just did it and guess what? It works.
Pets have been a perennial issue but many buildings are allowing "companion animals" under strict controls rather than banning them altogether. A model pet by-law on my website (www.jimmythomson.com/flatchat) has apparently helped.
We discovered that strata parasites who refuse to pay their levies are everywhere. These shysters rent out their units, including the communal facilities, but hang on to the levies until they sell up or are taken to court.
In my humble opinion, they should have their rents seized until they have cleared their debts, but the Office of Fair Trading doesn't think there's a problem, so what can you do? When it comes to turning a blind eye to dodgy dealings, the State Government's tacit acceptance of developers installing their own management firms in their buildings still takes the political biscuit.
In Victoria, the Government's website specifically warns apartment buyers about the potential conflict of interest, especially when it comes to identifying and rectifying defects. But in NSW, the silence is deafening. Last year, Macquarie Street made it more difficult for owners to sue developers (or anyone else) to get a fair deal. No surprise, then, that developers are the biggest donors to political parties.
It's not all doom and gloom. We've put many people with problems in touch with others who gave solutions. And the emails from Flatchatters who are relieved to know that they are not alone in the strata jungle are hugely gratifying. Thanks for helping us hit our century.
Email flatchat@jimmythomson.com or check The Ultimate Guide to Buying & Renting Houses & Apartments, by Jimmy Thomson, Fairfax Publications for $29.95.