Australia: Is your Building Missing a few Strata Dollars? (NSW)

You’d think that strata buildings would notice if money is missing, given how frugal they are. But, in NSW there’s more than half a million dollars of uncollected strata money just sitting around in government coffers. Read on to find out how and why that’s happened, and, what strata buildings can do about it.   Read […]

Thailand: Clear Up City Condo Mess

The Supreme Administrative Court ruling on Ashton Asoke, an upscale high-rise condominium, has sent shockwaves among Bangkok project developers. The ruling last Thursday invalidated the construction permit…    Read the article………………………..

Australia: Preventing Winter Fire Hazards

Winter is well and truly upon us and statistics show that almost half of unit fires are started in the kitchen and 58% of all fire fatalities occur in winter. With winter well and truly here, let’s take the time to brush up of safety measures and be prepared if you haven’t already to reduce […]

India: Tower H of Chintels also deemed unsafe, B and C are fine

Tower H of the Chintels Paradiso condominium in Sector 109 has been deemed unsafe by experts from IIT-Delhi, according to district officials. The structural audit reports of towers B, C, and H will be shared with homeowners and the residents’ welfare association in the next few days    Read the article………………………..

Australia: Does Government have a Strata Plan?

Australian strata title buildings, owners, and stakeholders are regulated by extensive & complex strata laws that are created, tweaked, and managed by state governments. But, do those governments have any clear policy objectives, strategies, or medium to long-term plans for strata title, or, are they just reacting to more and more strata buildings crises? And, […]

Australia: Improving Strata 03: Does Government have a Strata Plan?

Australian strata title buildings, owners, and stakeholders are regulated by extensive & complex strata laws that are created, tweaked, and managed by state governments. But, do those governments have any clear policy objectives, strategies, or medium to long-term plans for strata title, or, are they just reacting to more and more strata buildings crises? And, […]

Netherlands: Three-quarters of apartment owners unhappy with management of homeowners association

Over three-quarters of apartment owners are unhappy with the manager of their homeowners’ association, Vereniging Eigen Huis, the umbrella for homeowners associations, said after analyzing the complaints to its hotline. They complain about bad communication, poor administration, and managers making decisions without consulting the members.    Read the article………………………..

Estonia: Residents of fire-damaged flats in legal battle with insurance company

A legal dispute has impeded the reconstruction of an apartment building that was destroyed by fire last year. The residents of the building see the situation as a threat to all apartment buildings in Estonia, but insurance companies and government agencies say no action is required.    Read the article………………………..

Sri Lanka: Condos in conflict: Empire vs Tri-Zen

In an action that came up before Colombo District Court Residential Towers Ltd., (TRI-ZEN) at No. 17, Sir Chittampalam A. Gardiner Mawatha, Colombo 02 was restrained from building and or painting the North-West side of their condominium building at No. 5, Baybrooke Place, Colombo 02.   Read the article………………………..

Australia: ‘More blocks in danger’ of Mascot Towers-style evacuations

There could be as many as five apartment blocks in NSW teetering on the brink of forced evacuation – as befell both Mascot Towers and Opal Towers four years ago – because their owners corporations (or body corporates) are too scared to come forward and ask for help with building defects.   Read the article………………………..

Australia: Owners Corporation – NCAT Enforces By-laws

Does an owners corporation have to enforce its by-laws? If an owners corporation decides to ignore breaches of its by-laws, can NCAT force the owners corporation to take action and enforce its by-laws? A recent NCAT case provides the answer to these questions.   Read the article………………………..

Bahamas: Condo headed south: LTS owners and neighbors upset over appearance

The once prestigious and stylish Lucayan Towers South Condominium complex is quickly becoming one of the island’s eyesores as the building continues to deteriorate while authorities appear unwilling or unable to intervene. Balconies are crumbling, liding glass doors are boarded up, there is exposed rebar and derelict cabanas surround the empty pool.    Read the article………………………..

Ethiopia: New Tax On Condominium Houses Ignites Controversy, Concerns Arise Over Legal Implications, Potential Social Crisis

The recent implementation of a revised tax rate on condominium house roofs and walls by the Addis Ababa City Administration Revenue Office has sparked a heated debate and raised significant concerns among various stakeholders. Legal experts, financial analysts, and homeowners alike are voicing apprehensions about the potential implications of this tax adjustment, emphasizing the financial […]

Australia: Noisy Strata Neighbours – The Top Noise Complaints

Strata apartments come with many perks for owners and tenants but of course, there’s also a downside with one of the biggest complaints being noise. As more and more people enjoy apartment living noise complaints have increased in recent times by 33%* and they continue to rise.   Read the article………………………..

Japan: Japan weighs proxy condo management for owners abroad

The Japanese government is considering setting up a proxy condominium management system for overseas owners.  Under the proposed system, proxies will have the authority to make decisions concerning the management of the condos on behalf of absentee owners. They will be able to decide, for instance, to allow builders entry into condo units for repair […]

Jamaica: New regime for communities with shared ownership in common property

Legislation regulating communities with shared ownership of common property (shared communities) that do not fall within the ambit of a strata has been on the horizon for some time now. Examples of such shared communities include townhouse developments, commercial developments and developments with semi-detached or detached units.    Read the article………………………..

India: Workers in high-rises earn low wages

In the fast-mushrooming high-rise apartments and gated enclaves in urban areas, where the upper classes, including corporate honchos, are living, a gross lack of human concern is becoming largely manifest in the way the lakhs of workers working as cl…       Read the article………………………..

Australia/Singapore: Governing cities: Exploring the laws of multi-family dwellings

Multi-family dwellings are an inevitable part of cities around the world. With so many living in close proximity to one another, conflicts are unavoidable. It is therefore important to ensure that such conflicts are efficiently resolved, and multi-family dwellings are governed properly. In the context of Singapore, applying for a high-rise public housing flat is […]

Australia: Councils call for Strict Caps on Short Term Letting

Short-term rental accommodation (STRA) in strata properties will continue to be a highly contentious topic in 2023 with even more scrutiny and increasing backlash to the industry because of the current housing crisis.   Read the article………………………..

South Africa: Woman sentenced to five years in prison

According to a statement by the Directorate for Priority Crimes (Hawks) Holtzhauzen was employed as a financial administration manager at Zandspruit Homeowners Association NPC situated in Hoedspruit. “Some of her responsibilities as a manager, include paying service providers for services rendered.  Instead of paying the service providers, the accused created fictitious claims and transferred the […]