In February, the NSW Minister for Innovation and Better Regulation, Matt Kean announced new plans to change how buildings are constructed in NSW. The changes were made in response to the Shergold-Weir Report and include a requirement that building designers and engineers declare that their plans comply with the Building Code of Australia and for…
While summer is technically almost over, many parts of Australia are still sweltering through some of the hottest, driest conditions we have seen. And these conditions are set to continue into autumn. When scorching temperatures combine with strong dry winds, it is a recipe for potential disaster. This could place lives and property at risk,…
At the end of October, the UK press announced greater protection for renters thanks to plans to overhaul health and safety standards for rental accommodation. New Zealand rental property standards also go further in protecting tenant health and safety. And those are just two global examples. Many in the industry believe it’s only a matter…
Common law in Australia dictates that landlords have a duty of care to guarantee the safety of rented properties. If someone (whether it be a tenant or a visitor to the property) is injured at one of the properties you manage, that person could sue the landlord, the agency and even you. Did you know…
If you are a property manager, landlord or tenant in Queensland, you only have until the end of the month to have your say on proposed reforms to the state’s 40-year old residential tenancy laws. With more than a third of Queenslander’s living in rental properties and stories emerging in the media about potentially serious…
