Buying off-the-plan

Basically, purchasing off-the-plan means you are buying a property that has not yet been built. The development can take a few years from the signing of the contract, which usually provides an estimated completion date. I get plenty of first home owners utilising this method of purchasing their f...

Interim orders in the Commissioner’s Office – more than just urgent...

There are a number of disputes that can arise in the context of community living. In some instances, the nature and urgency of the circumstances are such that an interim order from the Commissioner’s Office is required.    The purpose of an interim order is to put an action on hold or to maintain...

How to waste a body corporate’s money

If you have even a passing interest in federal politics, you will have seen the furore over Bronwyn Bishop’s recent taxpayer funded chopper flight to a Liberal fundraiser which was only an hour or so away by car.No doubt it was the easiest $5,000 she ever spent at the time.When it came to lig...

Dealing with nuisance owners

If you talk to any strata manager first up on a Monday morning you can usually be assured that the first half day of the working week will be spent going through all of the emails they have received on a weekend. Strata managers are not usually trained to charge like lawyers.  Perhaps that is the...