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Small business flattened by ‘dodgy’ builders in phoenixing epidemic

2020-09-21T22:17:30+10:00

17 December 2019 NSW construction companies collapse at levels not seen elsewhere in the country with more criminal misconduct allegations made against them than in other states. Administrators found evidence of wrongdoing in 561 construction industry businesses that failed in NSW in 2017-18, reflecting a pattern of "phoenixing" that is difficult to prosecute because it is not illegal in all cases. Illegal "phoenixing" occurs when company directors move assets from one [...]

Small business flattened by ‘dodgy’ builders in phoenixing epidemic2020-09-21T22:17:30+10:00

‘Six-year nightmare’: Shattered investors left with no one to sue for faulty units

2020-08-31T17:16:34+10:00

16 December 2019 A "defective" business model that experts say has reached epidemic levels in the NSW building industry is leaving investors financially broken. Aidan Ellis, 75, was stunned when the developer and builder of his apartment block could "walk away scot-free" after his companies went into liquidation midway through a battle over defects estimated to be worth in excess of $2 million. The "six-year nightmare" has forced Mr Ellis into [...]

‘Six-year nightmare’: Shattered investors left with no one to sue for faulty units2020-08-31T17:16:34+10:00

Builder blames engineer for cracks in Opal Tower

2020-09-21T22:17:42+10:00

4 December 2019 Builder Icon has pointed the finger at engineer WSP for the structural cracks that developed in Sydney's Opal Tower. It says the consultancy's design failures led to damage in the structural beams, which forced residents to evacuate the newly completed residential building and has made the units hard to lease. The Australian Financial Review Michael Bleby > Full article on The Australian Financial Review

Builder blames engineer for cracks in Opal Tower2020-09-21T22:17:42+10:00

New laws to protect off-the-plan buyers

2020-08-31T17:17:11+10:00

1 December 2019 NSW home buyers who purchase off-the-plan will be able to terminate contracts or claim compensation if they're materially impacted by changes made to their properties, under proposed changes announced by the state government. Property Minister Victor Dominello on Saturday announced the reforms aimed at creating stronger protections for off-the-plan buyers. "Buying off-the-plan has become increasingly popular. But there are risks involved, and buyers can't just rely on lavish [...]

New laws to protect off-the-plan buyers2020-08-31T17:17:11+10:00

Design & Building Practitioner Bill 2019

2020-10-06T22:07:59+11:00

OCN MEDIA RELEASE: 13 November 2019 Today the NSW Government proposed amendments to the Design & Building Practitioners Bill 2019 currently being considered by the NSW Parliament. These amendments begin the vital process of providing much improved consumer protection for people buying new apartments. They also improve the overall operation of the Bill in better regulating the NSW building industry. For these reasons the revised Bill has the support of [...]

Design & Building Practitioner Bill 20192020-10-06T22:07:59+11:00

‘Hands Off’ regulation leaves thousands of apartment owners ‘out in the cold’


2020-10-06T22:08:30+11:00

OCN MEDIA RELEASE: 19 August 2019 ‘Hands Off’ regulation leaves thousands of apartment owners 'out in the cold' "The residential building industry has abandoned apartment buyers and the risk of costly defects has been shifted onto innocent apartment home buyers left devastated by sub- standard work” Jane Hearn, Director of the Owners Corporation Network said today. The Owners Corporation Network (OCN) is the only association of apartment owners whose sole [...]

‘Hands Off’ regulation leaves thousands of apartment owners ‘out in the cold’
2020-10-06T22:08:30+11:00

Give Us Our Homes Back!

2020-10-06T22:08:58+11:00

OCN MEDIA RELEASE: 26 July 2019 Building Defects – ‘Give us our homes back’ say apartment owners It will be years before government reforms restore confidence in the building industry, say apartment owners, and only a substantive support package can restore consumer confidence promptly. This week the Owners Corporation Network (OCN), an association representing thousands of apartment owners, responded to the NSW Government’s plans to fix the building defect crisis. [...]

Give Us Our Homes Back!2020-10-06T22:08:58+11:00

Unit rates changes fail to fix fundamental flaw

2020-10-08T12:36:15+11:00

10 JUNE 2019 Disgruntled ratepayers are amassing a war chest in order to fight future rises, saying changes to the way the charge was calculated in this year's budget do not fix the underlying flaw in the system. Separate rating factors will be introduced for houses and units for the first time, to help smooth out some of the huge rates increases seen by unit owners in the past two years. [...]

Unit rates changes fail to fix fundamental flaw2020-10-08T12:36:15+11:00

OCN Welcomes Strata Commissioner, Calls For Minister for Housing and Building Quality

2020-10-06T22:10:11+11:00

OCN MEDIA RELEASE: 6 March 2019“Our members welcome Labor’s commitment to create a Strata Commissioner”, Phil Gall, Chairman of the Owners Corporation Network of Australia, said today.“The time is right to create a ministry for housing that brings housing, strata and property services together in one portfolio”.“Strata housing and the communities it creates are the product of Government policy. If Government wants our massively growing population to live in high rise, [...]

OCN Welcomes Strata Commissioner, Calls For Minister for Housing and Building Quality2020-10-06T22:10:11+11:00

Better Deal for Strata – Short Term Letting Policy

2020-10-06T22:00:33+11:00

28 FEBRUARY 2019 Airbnb-style letting in strata communities needs to be regulated to ensure short-term rentals do not make life a misery for other permanent residents and long-term tenants. OCN is calling on the NXSW State government to modify its proposed Short-Term Letting Arrangements to improve accountability and protections. > Read OCN’s case for a short-term letting register and associated measures (pdf)

Better Deal for Strata – Short Term Letting Policy2020-10-06T22:00:33+11:00
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