Sometimes we are just too efficient for our own good. No sooner had we sent this week’s podcast off for transcription than the news broke that NSW Building Commissioner David Chandler had announced he will be leaving the job in November – just weeks after he signed a year-long extension to his contract.

We’ve covered that in detail HERE and will pick up on the news for next week’s podcast.

Meanwhile, there’s plenty to talk about this week, including the TV report that they have discovered that apartment blocks in Victoria have defects.  Who knew? You can watch the ABC report HERE.

There’s the anti-strata beat-up about the couple from Earlwood in Sydney who, thanks to bad advice saw an $18,000 special levy blow out to a $44,000 debt – and that was after they had paid off $13,000.

Then, on the subject of debts, we have a chunk of last week’s interview with strata lawyer David Sachs which I cut out and set aside for this week as it’s mainly about Section 232 of the NSW strata Act and the various – almost limitless – ways it can be used to resolve disputes.

Then we talk about the things we like about hotels that end up being included in apartment designs.

So there’s lots to talk about before next week, when rest assured we will get into why David Chandler resigned and what kind of building commissioner the NSW government will be looking for to replace him.

TRANSCRIPT IN FULL

Jimmy  00:00

Okay, back from Bali.

Sue  00:02

Yes.

Jimmy  00:03

With no suntan, but a lot of mosquito bites.

Sue  00:07

Yes, but much more relaxed and happy and content.

Jimmy  00:13

Well, I was until we had to sit on the plane next to a teenage girl who refused to put a mask on.

Sue  00:20

Yes, that was very annoying, wasn't it, really? And she wasn't the only one, there were quite a few people on the plane who weren't wearing masks, which is a bit disturbing.

Jimmy  00:27

Because it says on the announcement, that it's a legal requirement that you wear a mask for the duration of the flight.

Sue  00:33

But it's pretty hard for the air stewards to insist. They kept coming around and reminding people and people would put on the mask...

Jimmy  00:39

And then as soon as they were gone, take it off again. And then they ask you to respect people's choices, which means you can't grab them by the throat and say "put your effing mask on."

Sue  00:40

Even though you want to.

Jimmy  00:52

Very much so. So today, we are going to talk about... Apparently they've just discovered defects in buildings in Melbourne; it was a big thing on the TV while we were away (shock, horror). Welcome to the real world. And, we're going to have another chat about that. What I think was a confected scandal, about the old couple who couldn't pay their levies... I think we were the first to (apart from the story that broke in the Sun-Herald before we left).. We were the first people to actually pick up on that and comment on it, so I think we're entitled to have another swing at it, now that we've had a chance to think. And, David Sachs, the strata lawyer, was talking about debts last week. And I chopped out a thing (because we kind of went off on a tangent at one point), to talk about section 232, which is part of the act that basically, allows you to resolve disputes with your strata committee, or your strata scheme. So, that's quite a lot really, isn't it?

Sue  01:59

Absolutely.

Jimmy  02:00

I'm Jimmy Thomson, I write the Flat Chat column for the Australian Financial Review.

Sue  02:04

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

Jimmy  02:07

And this is the Flat Chat Wrap.

[MUSIC]

Jimmy

So, apartment blocks in Melbourne have defects... Who'd have thunk it?

Sue  02:28

It's interesting. I guess this story about the defects in the Melbourne block got a lot of traction, because the couple who live in the building were prepared to face up to the med...