Strata Appears on Late Night US Television

But, maybe it’s not all good news …

Andy Warhol was famously quoted as saying ‘in the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes’. But, when its strata title’s turn in the media limelight, is it more like fame or infamy …

[2.50 minutes estimated reading time, 510 words]

Introduction

John Oliver is an expatriate Englishman who has become a well-known and award-winning US political commentator and comedian and appears on late-night television show called Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

You’ve probably seen him talking about US politics, economics, and society featuring exposés on less than desirable business and government practices.

Recently, John Oliver’s show was focused on an aspect of US strata title in an exposé called ‘Homeowners Associations: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ where he takes a deep dive into the world of homeowners associations in the United States.

You can watch it here …

Was it good or bad news?

You’d think that appearing in the mainstream media in high rating and popular shows and timeslots is a great thing for strata title by giving it exposure to a larger audience, widening awareness of this important sector, and, improving its credibility.

Well, unfortunately it’s not always a good news story.

For instance, when strata title was featured in the ‘Homeowners Associations: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’ episode it highlighted the often absurd and sometimes frustrating experiences that homeowners [think strata owners] have with their homeowner associations, including dealing with strict rules, arbitrary fines, and power-hungry board/committee members.

John Oliver uses humour and satire in the episode to shed light on the challenges faced by homeowners who find themselves at odds with their homeowner associations.

The episode also explores various aspects of homeowner associations, such as their origins, the rules they enforce, and the lack of oversight and regulation in the industry. He also interviews homeowners who share their personal experiences with homeowner associations, showcasing both funny and troubling anecdotes.

In addition to the satire, the episode raises important questions about the balance between community standards in homeowner associations and individual rights, as well as the need for reform within the US strata title system. John Oliver concludes the episode by advocating for greater transparency and accountability in homeowner associations and encouraging viewers to take a closer look at their own homeowner associations.

So, despite the negative stories about homeowner associations in ‘Homeowners Associations: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver’, I think it’s an entertaining and thought-provoking exploration of a topic that affects many millions of people who live in communities governed by strata title systems; combining entertaining humour with a call to action and encouraging viewers to reconsider the role and impact of homeowners associations/strata title in their lives.

I also believe that these themes apply to Australian strata buildings.  Do you?

Conclusions

Whilst many say that any exposure is good exposure, that’s not always true. 

Sometimes, the attention happens because it highlights problems and challenges, and can appear quite negative.

Despite those risk, it’s a very good thing that strata title issues are publicised to the wider community in mainstream channels to increase awareness of strata title buildings, systems, and issues. 

September 20, 2023

Francesco ...