Calling all Village Idiots .. the NSW CTTT is Recruiting

It's fair to say that in any dispute at least one of the parties will be unhappy.  And, when you add the lawyers and managers in strata disputes there might even be two or three unhappy parties.


But, what if everyone is unhappy?  Maybe there's a bigger problem than the dispute and the parties ...


A forum on Jimmy Thomson's Flatchat about  poor decision making at the NSW Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal has brought this sad situation into sharp focus.


Some of the many comments on the forum include -

• "Would we ever purchase a strata property again in NSW ?  No."  
• "A formal complaint to the Chairperson of the CTTT was dismissed by stating that he is acting "as a private citizen."
• "Living in NSW strata is a nightmare where you have many obligations but no rights and certainly no assurance of assistance and fair justice from the "regulatory body", the CTTT."

Pretty heavy stuff when you compare it too the glowing comments in the CTTT Annual Report about it's performance.


It appears that many people have found their experience at the CTTT less than satisfying.  Citing examples of overly technical decisions making, not applying the rules (or by-laws), long delays, accepting disputed facts, applying personal bias, and simply lacking common sense.


It's easy to criticise but, I think that in this case, it's warranted.  


The CTTT needs to make sensible decisions that are explained to the disputants so that they accept the ruling, respect the process and will abide by the decision. 
Funnily thought, the unhappiness has gone so far that you can get an anti-CTTT t-shirt too proclaiming the low quality of it's decision makers.  get yours here.

Maybe it's just a few ratbags complaining?  But, in my long dealings with strata disputes, I have to say that it's hard to find too many people who are praising the CTTT.  If you're out there post on the blog ... please!


But, right or wrong there's something serious that needs fixing when the specialist dispute process for strata stakeholders in NSW reaches this level of consumer unhappiness.


So, see you complaining in the strata tribunal soon.




Francesco ...