Podcasts about flat chat

Last week Sue dropped a bomb into a discussion about new strata laws in NSW, one of which will invalidate by-laws that block sustainability changes because they would alter the look of the building.Does this mean the end of by-laws that forbid drying laundry on balconies? Surely not using a tumble dryer and instead using the wind and sun is a sustainability issue?And, if it is, doesn't that mean, at the very least, out-of-date laundry bans can be changed with a simple majority, meaning that a no-laundry minority of 25 per cent can't veto change.This week we look at the new laws and the current model by-laws and ask if the government hasn't inadvertently started a war between NOOOBs (Not On Our Balconies) and Greenies.And speaking of wars, we also look at a new book about missing anti-development activist Juanita Nielsen which suggests her campaigns to halt unfettered high-rise developments, and her disappearance 50 years ago next month, may have led to the current housing crisis.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

If you've been hiding under your bed - and who isn't tempted these days? - you may not have heard that NSW is about to see a second tranche of strata law reforms become a reality on July 1.What are the new laws and what do they mean? We invited Robert Anderson, President of SCA-NSW, the state's professional body for strata managers and service providers, on to the podcast to explain some of them.We discussed the fact that strata contracts will come under Federal consumer protection laws for the first time, and what that means - especially in relation to SCA's much maligned standard contract.Did you know Fair Trading is planning to issue a standard strata management contract, like the one for rentals? Me neither.We also touched on estimates for legal services, new processes for minor renovations, embedded networks, common property repair delays, the doubling of fees for seeing strata records, and the behaviour of committee members at meetings.And Sue thinks she's found a wrinkle that will make it harder for buildings to ban drying laundry on balconies.That's all in this week's (legal) action-packed Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Imagine if you could build apartments in half the time at 15 per cent less cost and a guarantee of no waterproofing, fire safety or structural defects.‘Tell 'im he must be dreamin',” say strata's Darryl Kerrigans.  Apartment blocks take longer to build than ever, cost more, and fire and waterproofing are still endemic defects across the industry.Enter Wayne Larson of PT Blink who is already constructing hundreds of new blocks with the promise that the process will be faster, less costly and with a much, much higher level of quality control.How do they do it? It's been described as a cross between Lego and Ikea flat pack furniture. Quite simply, at the same time as the steel frame is being constructed on-site, the floors, walls, bathrooms, windows and balconies are being manufactured in factories hundreds of kilometres away.Okay, but doesn't that mean identical looking chicken coops springing up all around the country?Far from it, says Wayne. They take architect drawings, pull them apart and create the individual components, which then all come together, ready to occupy the spaces created on the steel frame.Have a look at this video and it will make even more sense. But first, listen to this week's Flat Chat Wrap. Enjoy.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

As many of you may already know, every second Tuesday, JimmyT goes on ABC Radio with James Valentine on his Afternoon show to chat about apartments. Last week, Jimmy and James took calls from listeners about what you can and can't put on balconies, compulsory training for strata committees, tradies who block car spaces, and car lifts that break down.They also heard from one gentleman who hates strata and everything to do with it. As usual, it's a lively segment, so we thought you might like a taste of what you get on the radio.Jimmy is on with James on Tuesday afternoon, June the 3rd at 2pm. Why not send them a text on 0467 922 702 or call on 1300 222 702 and ask a curly question of your own. And you can hear more of James (without Jimmy) on ABC Afternoons.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

In this second part of Lawyer in the Hot Seat, recorded last week, strata legal eagle David Bannerman fields questions from Flat Chat's Jimmy Thomson about a range of issues, starting with what is vexatious litigant and how do you deal with them?Then there's the matter of disputes between neighbours and whether or not the strata committee should get involved - and what they can and should do if they go down that road.We look at embedded networks, how they are used to rip off apartment buyers, who should be warning strata newbies about them, and the very simple way purchasers can make sure it doesn't happen to them.And finally there are webinar viewers attendees' questions. That's all (only without the pictures) in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

In what has become an annual event here on Flat Chat, this week we were invited on to a webinar run by leading strata lawyer (and Flat Chat sponsor) David Bannerman for the Q&A session that we call Lawyer in the Hot Seat.In it we discuss such diverse issues as Lithium battery safety, a Vegepod balcony plant system that's been banned becasue it's not in keeping with the look of the building, the surprisingly widespread problem of mould and explore the vexed question of underperforming committee members.This is a long session so we have split it and will run the other half next week.  There's a lot in it because, as is the nature of strata, one answer leads to a Jenga stack of other questions. You can check out the Bannerman's website for a stack of strata-related information____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

The week's podcast covers a wide array of topics, from your thoughts on strata committee training, and the ups and downs of the property market to common myths about strata managers.  And we'll throw in a reference to photography as well.We have a look at Amanda Farmer's survey into strata owners' thought on training for strata committee members.  We won't do too many spoilers but it's worth hearing what you, the owners and tenants really want.Then we look at how volatile the building industry has become, with record number of small builders going out of business while the government's housing targets seem to be as out of reach as ever.Then we have a chat about some of the main myths about strata managers, as highlighted by Bobby Lehane, CEO of the Pica Group.And we give a nod to a photograph that accompanied one of Sue's stories about boarding house residents being evicted to make way for luxury houses in Sydney's Paddington.All in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

The Wrap is back with a look at sustainable apartments and the reality of spending a bit more to make a unit cheaper to live in.The latest message is that even if the average ‘green' unit costs $11k more, it will save you heaps of money… and salve your conscience too.We also uncover two worrying trends in one of our states where developers are loading up strata committees with their employees – ignoring any allegations of obvious conflicts of interest.Meanwhile, apartment owners seem blissfully unaware that there may be any potential problems. “They say they're going to take care of defects and it's in their best interests to do so, isn't it?”Well, is it?  Or are there some developers who are more concerned with profits than their reputations – since they can change their names any time they like?And finally we look at the conundrum of increased immigration putting pressure on the housing stock versus the need for skilled migrants to build more apartment blocks.Is temporary accommodation in migrant camps the answer? Make them attractive places to stay – they don't have to be like prisons. And would it be any worse than migrants having to share a two-bed flat with a dozen other renters?That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Did you know that getting on for 4.5 million Australians live in strata? And who do you think comprises the single largest demographic group, from singles and couples through to one-parent families?Can you even take a wild guess at the total value of strata properties in Oz, or what percentage of strata schemes don't have strata managers?This week we take a deep dive into the latest Australasian (it includes NZ) Strata Insights report from UNSW and SCA.By the way, we got ourselves into a bit of a fankle over the Nepali language, which we mispronounced “nepawlee” rathere than “nepa-ly”, and which we partially correctly said was Nepalese – as in, the official language of Nepal.In fact, Nepali is spoken by more than up to 20 million people, mostly in Nepal and neighbouring parts of India. Smaller speech communities exist in Bhutan, Brunei, and Myanmar. And in Melbourne too, it seems.We also take a quick check on what the various political parties are offering by way of tackling the housing crisis and we talk briefly about why it's such a surprise to see one of our apartment developer giants exposed in the news.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

There's a lot going on in the strata sphere this week, starting with the Sydney Morning Herald's big expose on building defects.It's well worth reading but it's funny how every time a new reporter writes about this stuff, it's treated as if it's just been discovered.Speaking as people who have been on this beat for two decades, we are just glad that the issues are being aired again.Meanwhile strata managers nationally want to know why apartment buildings have been excluded from the multi-billion-dollar boost for solar panel battery storage. By the way, in the podcast we erroneously referred to solar panels, not batteries, as a sharp-eared listener has pointed out.  And we dig into the three-way fight over commission payments between owners (in the shape of the Owners Corporation Network) plus the Australian Consumers Insurance Lobby (ACIL), strata managers, and strata insurers.   That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

We'd love to ignore the election but we can't, so this week we look at what our nation's political parties are offering apartment buyers and renters as we hurtle towards polling day.Everybody agrees we need more housing – and that means more apartments – but the policies differ, including one that an economist has dubbed “the worst economic policy of the 21st century.” And we look at Victoria where the state government is pushing through a no-nimby policy to force councils to accept low-rise apartment blocks.We have a chat about Strata Community Association, the strata managers' peak body's call for national protection for apartment owners from defective buildings.And we look why rents of apartments are rising faster than rents of houses, and where this is happening, including one holiday letting hotspot that's been hit by a 60-night a year limit. That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

We are getting into two of the topics that cause most angst in apartment living, this week: pets and buying property.Firstly, we take a spin around the question of landlords in NSW no longer being able to ban renters' pets for no good reason – and how that will affect the more than 50 per cent of apartment residents who are tenants.This is a question I asked in the Sydney Morning Herald: Will our apartment blocks suddenly be awash with furry friends? Or will property investors – confronted by the other regulation changes, both recent and impending – decide “stuff this for a game of Monopoly” and sell up or switch to Airbnb and its ilk?Then we look at a story Sue wrote for Domain (also in the SMH) about how she went looking to find a new flat for a temporarily overseas friend with the instruction to spend up $1million.What's it like flat hunting for a friend, knowing that if you have made the wrong suggestion that's a million bucks worth of misery for them and you?That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap?____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Last week we said that Strata Community Association NSW  - the states' strata managers' professional body - was in disarray.  Objecting to that negative characterisation, NSW President Robert Anderson agreed to come on to the podcast and answer a few questions.We had no shortage of those. For instance, we asked what the changes at SCA-NSW are. Has SCA-NSW been getting it wrong? Is there a new philosophy or culture, following changes on the SCA-NSW board?Are the changes in the standard agency agreement a recognition that there was something wrong with the previous much maligned version or is it just to comply with changes in legislation?What does SCA-NSW have to do to regain owners' trust? What about training for committee members? Who should do it: SCA, the Owners Corporation Network (OCN) or Fair Trading?And finally, will the SCA continue to claim that it represents owners? It's a slightly longer than usual session and the sound quality is OK but, thanks to the interview being conducted over Zoom, not up to our usual tip-top standards.Enjoy.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

This week we look back at what has been described by some lawyers as one of the most significant legal decisions of the 21st Century – right up there with Donald Trump's court losses.We are talking about the “Jo Cooper” decision five years ago which said strata schemes couldn't impose blanket bans on pets. So many strata schemes have pets these days that it feels like dog and cat ownership is almost compulsory – and no, the sky hasn't fallen in and so far, no frail or elderly person has been savaged to death by marauding chihuahuas.We will also be looking at how the state government is claiming that its moves to ban rent bidding have meant rents have gone down.  And hearing why they are likely to start rising even faster.And we will be answering a question that was asked on radio on James Valentines Afternoons on Tuesday (click here and whizz forward to 1h 35mins) – do you need to have a second, separate laundry sink when you move your washing machine and drier into your renovated kitchen?That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

The long-awaited report into what has become known as the Netstrata Scandal came out last week – too late for the podcast – so we bring it to you in all its glory this week.Fair Trading NSW have, unusually for them, hopped in with a fairly strident comment and Netstrata has responded with vehement denials of wrong-doing and assurances that anything than needed fixing has been fixed.You can find our report on the McGrathNicol findings HERE, the McGrathNicol report HERE,  Fair Trading's response HERE,  and the Netstrata reaction HERE. So what's the truth?  We have had the dubious pleasure of owning in a strata scheme managed by Netstrata and seeing the way they work at close hand.What are they really like?  Listen to this week's Flat Chat Wrap to find out.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

This week's podcast looks at the renewed concern about the effect of short-term holiday lets on affordable housing, following City of Sydney's request to the state government to change the laws to curb Airbnb and its ilk.Last week CoS said about 1000 homes would come back into the residential rental market in central Sydney alone if the government put limits on commercial STHL operators. And we hear rumours that a Victoria-style tax is being considered, with the proceeds going to build new homes.And can we trust an Airbnb survey that says people who can let their homes all year would just shutter them, rather than return them to the residential market?And speaking of new homes, the government has fast-tracked planning approval for a number of high-rise blocks that will house 8000 families.But are they building communities?By the way, the news about the Netstrata report came in after we had recorded the podcast so we will definitely pick that up next week.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

The podcast this week is almost entirely taken up with the new laws that passed the other day in the NSW parliament. We won't see most of them kick in until later in the year, but the effects could be immediate.Dodgy contracts that could see off-the-plan sales rescinded might be being rewritten as we speak.Building managers and strata committee chairs might well be asking what they have to change to fulfil requirements to act in the best interests of strata schemes.Developers' low-ball estimates of levies for new blocks might be getting pumped up a little if a $55k fine could be imposed for deliberately underquoting.But the one unanswered question – in the podcast, at least – is what form the Strata Taskforce is going to take and how it will operate.Such are the vagaries of online publishing that we answered that question in this story, after we had switched off the mikes. But we can have a chat about that next week.And finally, we welcome our new sponsors Strata Community Insurance to the Flat Chat fold. Insurance is all about risk, but we reckon SCInsurance is a safe bet.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

In this week's podcast we wonder whether the announcement of fines for strata managers who don't reveal the various deals and relationships they have with developers and service providers signals a sea change in how NSW Fair Trading regards strata professionals who play fast and loose with the facts.Quite clearly, this is a response to the revelations last year about how Netstrata allegedly hid insurance commissions from its clients. But is it enough?Netstrata is not the biggest strata management company involved in this, nor, in all likelihood, will it be the worst offender. Will we ever find out? Manwhile, strata schemes should not be mistaken in thinking it's your strata manager – the one who turns up at your AGM who will be fined.This is about the companies, large and small, whose culture has evolved from support and service to profits at all costs. Your strata manager is only doing what their job description dictates.Also in the pod, we look at a new drive to build homes specifically for essential service providers like nurses, cops and firies.We discuss the likely impact of the new releases of designs from the NSW pattern book for low-density apartment blocks.And we mull over what should be done about a spare chunk of common property that has been annexed by an enterprising owner.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

In this week's podcast we ask why it is that, while the so-called Arrow decision has established that pre-sale strata contracts are invalid, some developers can get away with signing them.As raised by our friend Francesco Andreone at GoStrata, what needs to be done to the laws to stop this pernicious exploitation of strata owners' lack of knowledge and experience?  And why do we apartment owners have to risk our money in taking developers  to court to re-litigate these cases every time they turn up.On a lighter note, we ask how over-50s would cope with having to share homes again.  Sure it would help with loneliness and isolation, as well as being financially prudent.  But what would other Boomers' behaviour do that drove you mad?And finally, Flat Chat has a new media outlet and a whole new readership (we hope) who have missed out on our 20 years of fighting the good fight for strata owners and residents.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

It seems strata may have a new pantomime villain (like we need one).  This week we look at multi-millionaire developer of fancy pants apartment blocks Tim Gurner.He once shocked an economic conference by saying the country needs 40-50 per cent unemployment.If that wasn't bad enough it's alleged he was the first public figure to draw parallels between young people eating smashed avocado and not being able to afford to buy a home.Now this Melbourne developer of luxury apartments, and some of his customers, are in conflict as defects start to surface in his uber-fancy St Moritz block in the Victorian capital.It's not so much how the mighty have fallen (because he hasn't) as how the prices have fallen, and in a rising market.But before that, we look at the new regulations for strata managers that come in nest week (Feb3) and wonder how much difference they will really make.And finally, Jimmy comes up with his radical plan to build more affordable apartments, saying that affordable luxury is impossible but liveable affordability may be the way forwardIf you can tolerate a bit of noise from your neighbours, and one lift instead of two, surely apartment blocks could be built more cheaply without the risk of them falling down. That's all in the Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

With half of Australia still in holiday or hangover mode, and half of Sydney stuck on a railway platform somewhere, this is a short and (we hope) sweet Flat Chat Wrap podcast this week.First, we look at a new trend in affordable and comfortable co-living, which already exists in two completed blocks in Sydney, with another one on the way.Then there's the revelation that the price gap between houses and apartment narrowing dramatically, as houses get a bit cheaper and apartments get dearer.And finally there's news of a new and possibly trend-setting addition to a planned apartment block which will doubtless get tongues and tails wagging with its direct appeal to dog owners.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

We are back in the saddle for the new year with the news that the NSW government has come up with a new way of tackling the bureaucracy and red tape that's holding back housing construction – by adding what looks like another level of bureaucracy and red tape.To be fair, the intentions are good. Maybe more really is less, and the new Housing Delivery Authority will accelerate the construction of “State Significant Developments”, especially in areas ripe for development but where Nimbys rule the roost. We shall see.However, one of the more remarkable achievements around this is that the government has managed to announce this without even mentioning one significant and controversial word.Also we hear about the apartment residents who turned their harbour view flat into a huge, expensive New Years Eve event venue … only it wasn't their flat. And we point the fingers at the Sydney residents who have taken Nimbyism to a new low – kicking locals who are already down and permanently out.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Looking forward to 2025 involves a certain amount of looking back. So we wonder this week what will happen, if anything, as a result of the long-delayed outcomes of investigations into Netstrata in particular or strata management in general. And we look at the proposed new strata laws for NSW.  Jimmy speculated that the least likely to make it all the way is the plan to bring strata contracts under Australian Consumer law.Why?  Because the parties with the most to lose – Strata Community Australia and the NSW Attorney General's office – are pretty powerful voices.And we look at our poll on what Flat Chat readers like most about the proposed changes.There's a clear split between laws that affect existing owners and buyers but there's one proposal that will affect everyone in strata that stands out from the crowd.That's all in this week's and 2024's final Flat Chat Wrap____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

From the scandals around Netstrata - and the harsh scrutiny all strata managers have faced as a consequence - to the departure of Building Commissioner David Chandler, 2024 was a huge year in strata.We look at those events as well as the roller-coaster rides for apartment owner clients of two now notorious strata managers who have found it just too easy to convince NCAT members to do exactly what they want, rather than what apartment owners need.In fact, we ask the question, is the NCAT tribunal so ill-equipped to deal with strata issues that it is actively undermining Fair Trading's efforts to improve public confidence in apartment living. And finally, we highlight a new build-to-rent development in the heart of Sydney which will allow long leases and pets, but remove toxic strata committees, rampant rent increases and the threat of Airbnb displacing residential renters.Ooops! In the podcast we said we were going to mention two ambushes in the Four Corners TV episode that brought Netstrata to book.  We talked about Stephen Brell but forgot to mention former Strata Commissioner John Minns.  However, we covered him in detail last week, so you're not really missing out. ____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

This week we say farewell to former Strata Commissioner John Minns who has decided to quit, despite a months-long inquiry into allegations of conflict of interest finding nothing untoward.Jimmy had a long chat with him (off air) which he relates in the podcast, covering his frustrations during his tenure and his fears for the future – not least who will take over his role.The we turn our sights on NCAT – the NSW Tribunal which seems to be doing more to undermine efforts to build confidence in strata than all the dodgy developers and suspect strata managers combined.Can we trust a body that has untrained Members making decisions about our lives when many of them clearly don't know or care about strata? Separate to the point of being in opposition to Fair Trading, the whole Tribunal system is clogged with regurgitated cases that could and should have been dealt with at the first time of asking. Justice delayed is justice denied – and that applies in strata too.And finally it's time to inject some pre-festive cheer with a story of owners who would rather share their new apartment block with low-income tenants, than live in an ivory tower.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Our deadlines meant we missed the chance to talk about the new strata laws proposed for NSW in last week's podcast but that has given us time to think about the proposals and what they mean.For instance, is compulsory training of strata committee members a good or bad thing?Will fear of having sales contracts rescinded deter developers from using embedded networks to save money and cheat their apartment buyers?Will heavy fines stop them from underestimating levies to make their apartment sales unrealistically attractive?Will coming under Australian consumer law mean the end of one-sided strata manager contracts?We can only touch on a few aspects of the proposed new laws but you can find out more about them HERE  … after you have listened to this week's podcast, of course. ____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Three big stories get most of our attention in this week's podcast.Firstly there's the publication of the new Guide to Strata Living, which earns some praise, but a few brickbats from JimmyT.  You can judge for yourself HERE, where there are also links to the actual guide for you to download.Then there's the recent attack on unfair strata management contracts by eminent construction lawyer Bronwyn Weir.  And, once you've listen to the podcast, you might want to read more about it HERE and HERE (with links to the original ABC news story).Two years ago, Jimmy wrote that apartment blocks in Victoria were rotting from the inside.  Now a report by the strata government's Cladding Safety Victoria has confirmed that half the buildings they inspected were doing exactly that. You can read about it HERE.And finally, would you leave a spare key with someone, in case of emergencies? Should it be compulsory?  That's all in the Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

We've been catching up with all the strata stories that emerged while we were away – and there's a lot of them, covering just about every aspect of apartment living.The plan to boost Sydney's night time economy with 24/7 bar openings has alarmed well-heeled resident so Circular Quay (according to this video on the Sydney Morning Herald website).And there's more angst over noisy gyms which we first highlighted in this podcast and Sue's SMH story before we left for Europe.We discuss why strata schemes are way behind free-standing homes when it comes to installing solar, prompted by this story.  Does it have something to do with embedded networks and devious developers?We look at a renewed push to wash away outdated and anti-sustainability by-laws that forbid drying laundry on balconies.And we wonder if councils could be doing more to encourage the inclusion of creative spaces in new apartment blocks, following this report.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Can you imagine paying $30,000 a night for a pad in London? Yes, that's thirty thousand dollars, in case you thought it was a misprint.And this is in a city that has its share of homelessness and has had to introduce a 90-night limit on short-term holiday lets to combat the drain on residential properties caused by platforms like Airbnb and their ilk.Also in Britain, a government survey has revealed how many previously unidentified apartment blocks still have potentially fatal flammable cladding, more than seven years after the Grenfell disaster.Meanwhile the contrast in Australian political approaches to the housing shortage – lack of supply or excess of demand – was brought into stark relief by the result of the US presidential election. One side said it was a failure of investment, the other that it was caused by immigrants. Spoiler alert: Donald Trump will be back in the White House until J D Vance slips an overdose of moonshine and opiates into his diet Coke then announces he was secretly a liberal all this time.Seriously though, as we discover, even a socialist republic has trouble building apartments ordinary people can afford (unless you're Aussie – then they're a bargain).This week's podcast is the last to be recorded on our travels and is a bit shorter than usual, not least because we were cramming the last of our journalistic tasks in between trying to make the most of our dwindling days in France.Next week we'll be back to whatever passes for normal in strata.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Welcome back to Flat Chat! And it's another late one thanks to various movements of people. And in the case of Codders and Autosport Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas coming back from Mexico, movements of people in the wrong direction at the wrong time… of course, Mark Gallagher joins as well!   The latest edition of GP Racing magazine hit the newsstands just before the US Grand Prix as we look at who's going to be top dog at Ferrari next year, as Mark and Alex ponder what the Vettel-esque mistakes Lewis Hamilton shouldn't make as he prepares to battle Charles Leclerc for supremacy at Maranello. Elsewhere, Pat Symonds is featured as he talks about why multiple teams are struggling to add performance as the season goes on, and why McLaren has waited so long to use its latest floor upgrade.  And of course, there has to be a discussion on driving standards after Max Verstappen doubled down on his aggressive defending against Lando Norris, and received 20 seconds of time penalties during the Mexico Grand Prix. How will they be adjusted ahead of the Qatar Grand Prix, and is the FIA being consistent enough with its stewarding?  If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. A Motorsport Network production, Producer: Dre Harrison

Your intrepid Flat Chat team's travels take them to London this week but that doesn't mean they have lost touch with what's happening in Australia.For a start a boost to funding for tenants' supports agencies has been announced by the NSW state government.  That will no doubt be very useful when the inevitable confusion arises from the raft of changes to tenancy laws, passed by state parliament last week, come into effect in the new year.That doesn't just help tenants. As Jimmy says, if landlords or even owners corporations want to know what renters' rights and responsibilities are, check the websites that offer advice to tenants and you'll know exactly where they are coming from.Then we have the latest apartment prices from the last quarter with Queensland outstripping Melbourne.And finally, a sad story that has a bit of everything: A pregnant mother of five falls from a tenth-storey window, a boyfriend with a criminal history, conspiracy theories on the internet and a miracle of survival.But seriously, if as Sue says, you find the story disturbing or know someone who does need advice and support, you can always call Lifeline on 131 114 or go online HERE.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

This week's podcast comes to you from less-than-sunny Glasgow, which may explain the slightly different sound quality.But the chat is up to its usual standards as we speculate on what new Building Commissioner James Sherrard will bring to the job as he fills the substantial shoes recently vacated by the redoubtable David Chandler.Then we have a look at the recent revelations about Netstrata allegedly slipping old receipts and invoices into their strata schemes' portals. This has led to some strata owners realising for the first time how much extra they have been paying for compulsory insurance, thanks to hidden brokerage fees and commissions.And we speculate on what the next strata scandal will be – the potential misuse of “full delegation” clauses in contracts, which allow strata management firms to take over the running of strata schemes with little or no consultation with their owners.That's all in this week's Flat Chat Wrap.____________________________________________________Flat Chat is all about apartment living, especially in Australia.Find us on Facebook and Twitter and the Flat Chat website.Send comments and questions to mail@flatchat.com.au.Register to ask and answer questions about apartment living anonymously on the website.Recorded by Jimmy Thomson & Sue Williams; Transcribed by Otter.ai.Find out more about Sue Williams and Jimmy Thomson on their websites.

Welcome back to another edition of Flat Chat with Codders, and with two shows in as many weekends, we're almost caught up again! Codders as usual is joined by Mark Gallagher and Autosport's Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas to catch up with what was a hectic Baku and Singapore double header. In this episode, there's chat about McLaren and the nerves about potentially unsettling their winning car via floor upgrades. Have they stumbled across the right formula for success, as their flexi-wing in Baku may have proved? George Russell is mentioned as well. With Andrea Kimi Antonelli joining in 2025 and with Toto Wolff still eyeing up Max Verstappen with the allure of a potentially great 2026 car, has Russell become the odd man out, despite his strong performances at Mercedes? And Red Bull can't lock the doors down fast enough in MIlton Keynes as they lose two more key members of staff, with Jonathan Wheatley heading to Audi for 2025, and chief strategist Will Courtenay joining McLaren as Sporting Director sometime in 2032 (Codder's words on Gardening Leave, mind). The trio discuss the impact they'll be likely to have on their new teams. All that and a throwback to the days of William Shatner, in October's Flat Chat!  If you don't yet subscribe to GP Racing, head to gpracing.com where print and digital and Autosport Plus packages start at three issues for three pounds. If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. Producer: Dre Harrison 

It's been a long time coming, but it's finally time for another edition of Flat Chat with Codders, fresh off the back of the Italian Grand Prix, and the gang is back together with Mark "Captain Pugwush" Gallagher and Autosport GP Editor, Alex Kalinauckas! In this edition of the show, the trio discuss McLaren, who have arguably become the best team in F1, and with a genuine chance to capture both Drivers and Constructors titles. But with Charles Leclerc beating both Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri on the day, is McLaren tripping over their mechanical feet? And will Piastri take the threat of team orders lying down. Murmurs of Mark Webber ring in the background... There's also chat about the news of Kimi Antonelli's Formula 1 debut as he took George Russell's car in Free Practise, only to replicate Safety Car driver Bernd Maylander 10 minutes later and stuff it in the wall of the Parabolica. Is there too much hype for the teenage Italian, and does it put George Russell's future at risk with Toto still talking about the possibility of Max Verstappen joining in the future! And finally a chat about more new faces on the grid right now and in the future, with Franco Colapinto replacing Logan Sargeant at Williams and the PR juggling that Team Principal James Vowles had to go through after upsetting the Schumacher family, as well as Jack Doohan announced at Alpine for 2025. How does Alex think Franco feared on debut in tricky circumstances, and can be F1's answer to Lionel Messi. All that and a surprise phonecall from "Jackie Stewart" in the latest Flat Chat with Codders! If you don't yet subscribe to GP Racing, head to gpracing.com where print and digital and Autosport Plus packages start at three issues for three pounds. If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. Producer: Dre Harrison 

It's time for June 2024's Flat Chat with Codders for GP Racing Magazine as Codders is joined as ever by Mark Gallagher from New York and Autosport's Grand Prix Editor Alex Kalinauckas! In this edition of the show, the trio talk about the big return of Flavio Briatore to the Alpine team as a "Special Supervisor". What direction is the future of the Alpine team heading in, and what was the thought process of Renault CEO Luca De Meo, especially with the team's current technical shortcomings, with the possibility of them dropping their power units fresh in the news! There's also a big preview for next week's British Grand Prix, with eight-time winner Lewis Hamilton the main focus. Included is a fascinating story about how GP Racing's own photographer Steven Tee used a unique method of analyising the tyre wear of Hamilton's competitors in 2008... ...And finally a deep dive on Yuki Tsunoda as he begins to emerge as RB's Team Leader, just as his team slips to the back of the pecking order via their new upgrade package! If you don't yet subscribe to GP Racing, head to gpracing.com where print and digital and Autosport Plus packages start at three issues for three pounds. If you prefer to enter an actual retail establishment, make sure your journey isn't wasted. Visit Seymour.co.uk and type your postcode into the store finder to locate your nearest stockist. Producer: Dre Harrison

In this month's edition of GP Racing magazine, it's time we try and have a crack at trying to 'Fix' F1's age-old problems. Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew as all three try and solve F1's current problems and ask the question can they be fixed at all. We also discuss Sergio Perez's current situation going into 2024 against Max Verstappen and the topic of ‘bad' team names, do we have a new number one? There's plenty to debate and much at stake in this episode. Find out in today's episode, plus all of the other talking points from the February edition.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss how Carlos Sainz is winning his fight to stay at Ferrari. Mark is also fresh from visiting the track in Las Vegas and discusses how F1's return to Sin City affects the teams and the fans. And General Motors has registered to join F1 as a power unit manufacturer in 2028 via its Cadillac brand. The intention is to partner with the new Andretti F1 team, so this announcement is bound up in all the politics surrounding that. We've dug into the Andretti business in previous editions of the podcast but this has moved the story on a fair bit and the timing is significant. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss how Max Verstappen joined exclusive club of F1 champions who clinched the title on a Saturday. This month the cover star of GP Racing is Fernando Alonso. We charged our reporter Oleg with the task of finding out what makes him tick, and why Formula 1 is “like a drug to him”.    And around this time of year we like to do a tech analysis of the constructors' championship-winning car. As Matt Kew has written about recently, Red Bull's RB19 doesn't have any one trick up it's sleeve, thereby denying the opposition the opportunity to either complain or copy. On the podcast this month we talk about how Adrian Newey continues hunt for perfection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss how Max Verstappen joined exclusive club of F1 champions who clinched the title on a Saturday. This month the cover star of GP Racing is Fernando Alonso. We charged our reporter Oleg with the task of finding out what makes him tick, and why Formula 1 is “like a drug to him”.  And around this time of year we like to do a tech analysis of the constructors' championship-winning car. As Matt Kew has written about recently, Red Bull's RB19 doesn't have any one trick up it's sleeve, thereby denying the opposition the opportunity to either complain or copy. On the podcast this month we talk about how Adrian Newey continues hunt for perfection.

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Codders is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew. Mark has been to see how the Las Vegas street track is coming along. Whilst there's still work to do, he was left feeling impressed. Also this month, Andrew Benson has written an excellent analysis for GP Racing looking at McLaren's renaissance. Elsewhere, Alex Kalinauckas reports on how he was embedded in the Haas team over the Silverstone weekend to listen in to their top secret engineering debriefs and came away surprised. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Codders is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew. Mark has been to see how the Las Vegas street track is coming along. Whilst there's still work to do, he was left feeling impressed. Also this month, Andrew Benson has written an excellent analysis for GP Racing looking at McLaren's renaissance. Elsewhere, Alex Kalinauckas reports on how he was embedded in the Haas team over the Silverstone weekend to listen in to their top secret engineering debriefs and came away surprised.

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the unstoppable Max Verstappen. As he continues to break records, it's striking how matter-of-fact Verstappenis about his continued success. Our panellists discuss the question faced by every other team in the paddock: is there any way he can be stopped?   Also on the podcast we discuss the recent Monza Grand Prix and what happened afterwards as Carlos Sainz was attacked for his Richard Mille watch. Elsewhere in this issue of the magazine we have an interview with Alexander Wurz, the chairman of the GPDA, and a key figure is driving forward safety in the sport. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's edition of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the unstoppable Max Verstappen. As he continues to break records, it's striking how matter-of-fact Verstappenis about his continued success. Our panellists discuss the question faced by every other team in the paddock: is there any way he can be stopped? Also on the podcast we discuss the recent Monza Grand Prix and what happened afterwards as Carlos Sainz was attacked for his Richard Mille watch. Elsewhere in this issue of the magazine we have an interview with Alexander Wurz, the chairman of the GPDA, and a key figure is driving forward safety in the sport.

The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine weighs up Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc's next move and delves into the chaos at the Alpine F1 team.   The squad formerly known as Toleman, Benetton, Renault, Lotus, Renault again and now Alpine has had many names above the door over the past 40 years. And, recently, plenty of leaders who have been shown the (revolving) door after failing to meet the aspirations of those who ultimately pay the bills.  Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane became the latest casualties. At the same time it was revealed senior engineer Pat Fry was to become chief technical officer at Williams, amid strong suggestions that a toxic atmosphere created by former CEO Laurent Rossi was a reason for Fry choosing to leave.  GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to analyse the implications of these latest moves. As Alpine embarks on an ambitious expansion of its road car line-up and accompanying sales, is this a sign Renault Group boss Luca de Meo wants the team to be competitive earlier than its previous 100-race target?  And have the latest departures had as big an impact on staff morale at Enstone as claimed?  The cover story of this month's GP Racing focuses on Charles Leclerc's next moves. While it's unlikely he would move to either Red Bull or Mercedes in the short term, it's clear the relationship with Ferrari is strained.  The Scuderia and its loyal tifosi like to draw parallels between Leclerc and Gilles Villeneuve. Both brave, both occasionally prone to messy mistakes while pushing too hard – and might Leclerc, like Villeneuve, be contemplating a future elsewhere?  This month's GP Racing also celebrates Williams hitting its 800th grand prix with a package including an exclusive interview with team principal James Vowles. The former Mercedes engineer and chief strategist opens up about his fight to get into Formula 1 in the first place, early learnings at a struggling BAR-Honda, his role in changing the face of race strategy, and why the Williams team's new owners aren't looking to cash out any time soon.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine weighs up Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc's next move and delves into the chaos at the Alpine F1 team.   The squad formerly known as Toleman, Benetton, Renault, Lotus, Renault again and now Alpine has had many names above the door over the past 40 years. And, recently, plenty of leaders who have been shown the (revolving) door after failing to meet the aspirations of those who ultimately pay the bills.  Ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix team principal Otmar Szafnauer and sporting director Alan Permane became the latest casualties. At the same time it was revealed senior engineer Pat Fry was to become chief technical officer at Williams, amid strong suggestions that a toxic atmosphere created by former CEO Laurent Rossi was a reason for Fry choosing to leave.  GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to analyse the implications of these latest moves. As Alpine embarks on an ambitious expansion of its road car line-up and accompanying sales, is this a sign Renault Group boss Luca de Meo wants the team to be competitive earlier than its previous 100-race target?  And have the latest departures had as big an impact on staff morale at Enstone as claimed?  The cover story of this month's GP Racing focuses on Charles Leclerc's next moves. While it's unlikely he would move to either Red Bull or Mercedes in the short term, it's clear the relationship with Ferrari is strained.  The Scuderia and its loyal tifosi like to draw parallels between Leclerc and Gilles Villeneuve. Both brave, both occasionally prone to messy mistakes while pushing too hard – and might Leclerc, like Villeneuve, be contemplating a future elsewhere?  This month's GP Racing also celebrates Williams hitting its 800th grand prix with a package including an exclusive interview with team principal James Vowles. The former Mercedes engineer and chief strategist opens up about his fight to get into Formula 1 in the first place, early learnings at a struggling BAR-Honda, his role in changing the face of race strategy, and why the Williams team's new owners aren't looking to cash out any time soon. 

On this month's episode of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the stories in July's edition of GP Racing magazine. Ahead of the British Grand Prix, we've spoken to Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell for this month's edition. On the podcast we profile Lando Norris as not just a McLaren hotshot but an entrepreneur launching new businesses to connect with his growing fanbase.   Also on the podcast is a discussion about the recent investment in Alpine F1, led by the figurehead of Ryan Reynolds, and what it means for the sport.   Finally we talk about the consequence of decades of focus from F1 teams into aerodynamic complexity, and how this had led to suggestions that rule makers need to intervene (again) to make overtaking easier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's episode of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the stories in July's edition of GP Racing magazine.   Ahead of the British Grand Prix, we've spoken to Lewis Hamilton, Lando Norris and George Russell for this month's edition.  On the podcast we profile Lando Norris as not just a McLaren hotshot but an entrepreneur launching new businesses to connect with his growing fanbase. Also on the podcast is a discussion about the recent investment in Alpine F1, led by the figurehead of Ryan Reynolds, and what it means for the sport. Finally we talk about the consequence of decades of focus from F1 teams into aerodynamic complexity, and how this had led to suggestions that rule makers need to intervene (again) to make overtaking easier.

On this month's episode of the Flat Chat podcast, Stuart Codling is joined as usual by Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew to discuss the talking stories in June's edition of GP Racing magazine. A key talking point is the seeming shift in F1 from a young driver's sport to a battlefield for experienced veterans. We explore Fernando Alonso's continued success as he approaches 42, highlighting that, in this adrenaline-fueled sport, age is truly just a number. Rumours are circulating of 33-year-old Daniel Ricciardo's potential move to AlphaTauri, which sparks a conversation about the team's current flux. Mark Gallagher takes us through the after-effects of Dietrich Mateschitz's death, the regime change at AlphaTauri, and its impact on the Red Bull talent pipeline. On another front, the team discusses the challenges presented by an expanding F1 calendar, diving into the potential strain on teams, drivers, and all involved with the sport. With a poignant quote from the Haas team manager serving as a conversation starter, we explore the physical, mental, and logistic challenges that accompany the increasing number of race weekends. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this month's Flat Chat podcast we discuss the major changes happening within Mercedes. At the beginning of this season, Toto Wolff claimed that Mercedes' basic car concept was a dead end and that a major rethink was needed. Our tech columnist Pat Symonds explains what this means for the team. He breaks down "car concept" and the challenges faced when attempting an engineering U-turn in the fast-paced world of Formula 1.   Hosts Stuart Codling, Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew also discuss the rising fortunes of Aston Martin. The team has been surrounded by innuendo regarding whether their cars are simply copies of other successful designs, particularly Red Bull. This month, Matt Kew takes aim at this popular narrative and sheds light on the reality of the situation, revealing that not everything is as it appears to be.   Lastly, we look forward to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix this weekend. For the first time, Baku will host a sprint race with a separate qualifying session replacing the normal Saturday morning practice. The race start order will be governed by a traditional qualifying session, which moves to Friday afternoon. The new Saturday morning session dictates the Sprint line-up, with the Sprint itself no longer having any bearing on Sunday. But is this a good move for Formula 1 given the high chance of damage at Baku. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The latest Flat Chat podcast from GP Racing magazine leads on Valtteri Bottas becoming the first and possibly the last F1 driver on the cover with a moustache and mullet. Bottas is the subject of an exclusive no-holds-barred interview (and an unusual photo shoot) in GP Racing this month. Now free of the corporate leash he's enjoying life – and racing – once again. He explains why he rejected advice to ‘be more evil' while at Mercedes and why he's taking a stand for drivers to be able to express themselves. GP Racing columnists Mark Gallagher and Matt Kew join editor Stuart Codling to discuss this latest incarnation of Bottas as well as some of the most recent developments in F1. As senior Ferrari engineer David Sanchez leaves for McLaren, the panel reflect on the chaos which seems to be enveloping the teams currently in the wake of the dominant Red Bull outfit. If former Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto was as much a victim of regime change in the boardroom as of operational problems on track, why is his successor Frederic Vasseur – the preferred choice of the new executives – seemingly at loggerheads with CEO Benedetto Vigna? While team principal and senior executive squabble over peripheral topics such as who gets a paddock pass, the team has bigger issues to face: a car concept that may not be working and a lead driver, Charles Leclerc, who may be on the verge of throwing Ferrari over for a better offer when his contract expires. At McLaren, meanwhile, what is the thinking behind yet another management restructure? Having dropped the much-derided 'matrix management' system three years ago in favour of a conventional top-down hierarchy, McLaren's decision to have three technical leaders represents a major pivot. Elsewhere on the grid another team with a new leader, Williams, has enjoyed an unexpectedly positive start to the season considering the latest upheaval over the winter. First impressions are that new boss James Vowles is taking exactly the right approach to dealing with the problems which have pegged Williams back in recent years: measured and diplomatic, but decisive, as befits a leader with a background in engineering and strategy. It's the opposite tactic to that recently adopted by AlphaTauri boss Franz Tost, who seems to be following the playbook of Antonio Conte at Tottenham Hotspur by throwing his backroom staff under the bus… Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices