The art of civility appears to be dying. When people are willing to sue each other over a bad date, or even over the length of a sandwich, the urge to hit speed-dial to call in the lawyers has never been greater.

Earlier this year we reported on a defamation case that cost a tenant $120,000 for an email that was critical of a body corporate chairman which she copied to 16 residents of the Watermark building in Manly, New South Wales.

The tenant appealed that decision and won. If you want to know why read on..

Its coming up to Christmas again so the decorations have been dusted off and hung up ready for Santa’s arrival in the coming weeks! Christmas light decorating is a tradition that many enjoy at this time of year however; residents need to be aware that they can also pose fire risks and electrical hazards if safety precautions are not made in advance.

There can also be by-laws to regulate decorations, particularly when placed on common property and balconies that may flash all night long into neighbours bedrooms. Read on to hear about our tips to not only stay safe, but also keep everyone cheerful that may not share the same enthusiasm you might have for lighting up the building.

Summer time is historically the peak period for storm season so now is the time to get prepared if you haven’t already. From past experiences, we know that intense weather events can occur with very little notice if any at all and when they hit, it is usually with devastating consequences.

Storm and particularly cyclone damage can leave a long-term impact both financially and emotionally for those affected most. To help minimise the impacts of sever weather damage, we have put together a list of steps to be prepared well in advance and after the weather event has passed.