Are you an Ace Ventura?

If you are a pet lover you may be interested to know where you and your pet stand in your strata scheme...

It appears that more than two-thirds of Australian households include pets and Australia has the highest incidence of pet ownership per household of any country in the world. It is also estimated that one in five people in New South Wales live in a strata scheme. Therefore it goes without saying that the pet policy issue is going to come up. 

Every strata scheme is different and therefore you must understand the rules surrounding pets prior to purchasing or renting in the building. However generally the key issues related to keeping animals in residential areas, particularly in a strata scheme, are related to cleanliness, noise, and unsociable behaviour. 

That said you do not require Owners Corporation consent to keep a guide dog or hearing dog in a strata scheme however whether you can keep your pet in the strata scheme depends on the terms of the By-laws which apply to the scheme. If the tenant/owner has told the Owners Corporation everything they need to know, and there should be no possible objection to your keeping a pet, then generally the By-Laws of a strata scheme will have the effect that the Owners Corporation must not unreasonably withhold its consent. Consent can be withheld by the Owners Corporation if you asked to keep a large dog or several animals in a small apartment. If the tenant/owner believes consent has been withheld unfairly they can take the following action; Mediation OR Adjudication OR Appeal to Consumer, Trader and Tenancy Tribunal.

If the Owners Corporation grants you permission to keep a pet you must ensure that the presence of your pet does not become a nuisance for other residents in the strata scheme. Even though you may have the consent of the landlord and the Owners Corporation, any owner or occupier within the scheme can apply for an order to remove a pet on the grounds that it is causing a nuisance. To minimise the chances of this occurring, you should ensure your pet is house trained, that a dog is kept on a leash when necessary and that all animals are taught appropriate behaviour. If your pet is a dog, excessive barking is an issue that must be addressed. If regularly walking or behavioural training of your dog does not remedy this situation, you may need to reconsider the suitability of living in a strata scheme altogether.

  

Please note: this information is intended as a guide and should not replace legal advice, below is a list of resources for tenants to seek further information;

● Application forms to resolve disputes and publications containing information may be obtained from the NSW Office of Fair Trading; website www.fairtrading.nsw.gov.au or the Renting and Strata Services Branch of the NSW Office of Fair Trading on 9338 7900 or 1800 451 431 (outside Sydney). ● Community Justice Centres can assist parties in reaching an agreement to resolve a dispute. The NSW Government section of the telephone book contains details of these centres. ● The NSW Department of Housing Home Purchase Advisory Service provides information on buying a strata unit – telephone 1800 806 653. ● The Tenants Union of NSW is a specialist Community Legal Centre that aims to represent the interests of all tenants in NSW. Its website is located at http://www.tenants.org.au/ – telephone (02) 9251 6590 ● The Community Relations Commission For a multicultural NSW, provides translation and interpreting services – telephone 1300 651 500.

 

Historic Darlinghurst - History on our doorstep

THE STATLER & HOPES APARTMENTS, DARLINGHURST

 Article by guest author Andrew Woodhouse, Director, Heritage Solutions

THE STATLER

The Statler and The Hopes with St Pancras at their rear, at 251-61 Darlinghurst Road, have more layers than a lasagne but are more intriguing: it's a mine of urban archaeology.

 

The Hon Joseph Docker MLC (1802-1884), Minister for Justice and described as “an old fogey” by media, lived on Darlinghurst Road in today’s Kings Cross. He then moved in 1880 to his home opposite St John’s Anglican church, later no.101 and now 261 Darlinghurst Road.

Sands’s Sydney and Suburban Directories show this new site in Darlinghurst Road was occupied by society’s upper echelons including another politician, a solicitor, and Joseph Docker, all close to the  courts and Macquarie Street.

Joseph died in 1884 but an old 1884 site survey shows no. 101 in its original form.

It was later named Nyrambla by 1888, and became the home of Joseph’s son, Wilfred Docker (1848-1919). The reason for the name is unknown. Wilfred was a banker, St John’s parishioner and a tireless charity worker. His brother, Ernest Docker, who died later in Elizabeth Bay, was a District Court Judge for 37 years, known for his harsh sentences.

  

THE HOPES

By 1895 the site adjacent was the Hope Private Hospital, later becoming The Hopes flats in 1931, and later “residential chambers”, or a boarding house. Nyrambla was then converted to flats by 1929 and by 1931 another apartment block, St Pancras, was built at the rear of The Hopes. Meanwhile, The Statler was re-badged with a neo-classical face lift in 1931.

Today’s apartments explain how the past has become the present.

The former 19^th century home with its gables, chimneys and wrought iron finials can still be seen high above and behind the 1930s façade overlay. The neo-classical 30s style features include Roman arch windows, terrazzo entrances and medallions.

This attractive group makes a significant heritage contribution to its neighbourhood.

For more information on the history of these wonderful Darlinghurst landmarks check out the blog 'My Darling Darlinghurst' 

We Love Local - Sushi Yachiyo, Darlinghurst

SUSHI YACHIYO - BRILLIANTLY AUTHENTIC JAPANESE ‘HOLE IN THE WALL’

Since I lived in Japan, I've been searching for that special place that really ‘feels’ Japanese and tastes it too.... Introducing Sushi Yachiyo!

Well now that I've found it I’m a once a week diner there (I’d eat there five days a week if I could). If you blinked, you’d miss it… it's tucked away in the chaos of the Inner East streetscape. And don’t be fooled by the understated décor, Sushi Yachiyo is the winner of the highest 3 stars from the Good Food Guide for food under $30, this restaurant is outstanding. 

The fish is super fresh making the sashimi out of this world, the miso cod is extraordinary, the tempura delicious, the hotpots divine, the pork belly katsu delectable and the wooden boat-like platters filled with Japanese delights are a sight to behold. And don’t get me started on the sake. 

The owner chef, Mitsu, has descended from a long line of Japanese chefs, bringing the traditional, authentic and pure art of Japanese cuisine to Darlinghurst, Sydney. He was apprenticed at the world famous Michelin starred six-hat restaurant "Akai".  Today, Mitsu's cooking is influenced not only by his Japanese heritage, but also by Spanish, French, Italian and Thai cuisine. Every morning while Sydney sleeps, Mitsu can be found drunk at the Sydney fish markets personally selecting the freshest fish of the day. 

So make your way to Sushi Yachiyo at 1/13 Kirketon Road, Darlinghurst (corner of William) and enjoy an unforgettable dinner or one of the Gozen degustations for lunch. And all this comes with the most unexpected vista of the Harbour Bridge and so reasonably priced. 

 This hole in the wall gets a 5 star rating from Cramer And The City!!  

We Love Local!

Here at 'Cramer And The City' we love our surrounding local businesses and so in tribute to them and the fabulous job they do serving up amazing-ness to the community we have decided to start a reviews section on our blog called - We Love Local!

You can expect honest and real reviews on the quirkiest, coolest and weirdest that Darlinghurst and the Inner City locals have to offer. Watch this space...

So why not show your love for the locals too by checking out our reviews section and remember to always buy local.

We Love Locals!

Give Your Home Sell Appeal

Step 1: DE-CLUTTER

Stress less and plan to de-clutter long before your first open day. Prior to your photo shoot taking place be prepared to have a big clean-up and take the opportunity to give away/store/sell anything you don’t think will add to the overall aesthetic of your home.

Too much furniture creates a sense of clutter and claustrophobia and goes against all the rules of Feng Sui. All your personal photos and paraphernalia are very important to you, but a potential purchaser must be able to visualise themselves in your home, so pack most of them away. Also tidy up the inside of all cupboards because people do end up having a look.

How to give your home sell appeal

Top tips for selling your home

It’s been your home sweet home for years, but it’s time to move on. And unless you are related to Neil Whitaker, you’ll probably need to give your place a bit (or a lot) of a makeover. Some things are obvious, but there is a lot going on inside the head of a potential purchaser when they are viewing your home and you want to ensure the best reaction possible. 

Below is a checklist of things to consider prior to listing your property which will increase your chances of a successful sale;

• Declutter 
• Clean
• Refresh
• Bring out the Bloom
• Sensory Appeal

Over the next few weeks we are going to delve deeper into these key areas, to help you consider all factors when preparing your home for the best possible sales outcome. Watch this space.....

Botanical healing

Peace out with a green interior

Plants bring life and beauty to any space, so bring them into your new place. If you are lucky enough to have a balcony, vertical gardens and potted plants create a garden you can take with you when you leave. 

Invest in a plant stand to bring nature indoors and put herbs on the kitchen bench or windowsill to add colour and to bring flavour to all of your meals. 

Ideal indoor plants include African violets, cyclamens, orchids, various ferns, Bromeliads, peace lilies and anthuriums. These will not only create colour but they also serve to purify the air you breathe.

Green is Good: you will feel relaxed and invigorated at home with plant life around

Create indoor outdoor spaces: you will love your new look balcony when you add green!