We’ve plundered the Flat Chat Forum for talking points this week, but first we discuss an issue that’s come to Sue from one of her Domain readers.

Did you know that if you buy an apartment off the plan and the finished unit varies from the contract design by more than 5%, you can ask for a discount or possibly even rescind the contract?

But how about if the plan for the whole scheme has changed considerably? For instance, if the building is much closer to other buildings than you were originally led to believe?

What if there isn't as much green space as you were promised, or if the view that you were sold is about to be blocked by another building?

It seems that not only do you have no recourse, the developer doesn’t even need to tell you that they have lodged an amended plan with the council.

This week we pull that topic apart in the podcast and see what comes wriggling out from under those stones.

Getting back to the Forum, we have a look at the whole question of what is and isn’t common property.

And we discuss the plight of an owner – or perhaps her neighbours – who’s been issued with a notice to comply because of her late-night chats in her backyard of a townhouse complex.

We also get into the area of strange noises from other apartments and wrap up various questions and answers raised about the whole business of fire safety inspections.

That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.

TRANSCRIPT IN FULL

Jimmy  00:00

It's forum week, on Flat Chat.

Sue  00:02

Oh, what's that?

Jimmy  00:03

I've just invented it. It's where we can talk about things that have come up on the forum.

Sue  00:10

Oh, yes? Have you had lots of things come up?

Jimmy  00:11

I get lots and lots of things come up. I get two or three things come up, but then lots of people respond; some of them making more sense than others, it has to be said.

Sue  00:13

And more sense than you?

Jimmy  00:25

Often this is the case. We've got a lot of material to get through. I am Jimmy Thomson, I wrote the Flat Chat column for the Australian Financial Review.

Sue  00:36

And I'm Sue Williams and I write about property for Domain.

Jimmy  00:39

And this is the Flat Chat Wrap.

[MUSIC]

Jimmy

Well, having announced 'forum week,' our first story isn't about the forum, at all. One of the listeners to this podcast contacted you with a strange story... It's strange, because I'm surprised it hasn't ever come up before.

Sue  01:12

Yes, I've never encountered anything like this before, either. Basically, this person bought an apartment off-the-plan in the inner west and then subsequently, the developer changed the plans. She made the point that unfortunately, she's bought the place, but she's surprised, because it's changed quite a lot.

Jimmy  01:32

Now, is this the apartment that's changed?

Sue  01:34

No, it's the area of the apartment complex. Her apartment was meant to look out onto greenery; a really lovely view. Now, it looks as if (from the amended plans), it's now going to be looking out onto other buildings. The buildings are much closer together than they were originally, in the original plans. She made the point (quite rightly), that it's interesting; when developers do change DA submissions...When they amend them, they obviously have to reapply to council and then the local council will let all the ratepayers within that area know about these these amended changes. Ratepayers are then able to have the opportunity to object, or to not do anything, but the people who have bought into the building, because they're not ratepayers (unless they live nearby anyway), they're not hearing about these changes, because the developer doesn't have to let them know.

Jimmy  02:30

Wow! Do you think the developer should have to let them know?

Sue  02:34

Yes, absolutely, because this lady made the point that the only time you're actually going to be told is; you can go on...