Strata common property maintenance obligations s106.
It’s been a big month for strata, with two Court of Appeal decisions extending potential claims available to lot owners.
On 30 August 2017, in Shum v the Owners Corporation SP30621 [2017] NSWCATCD 68 Member Grew awarded a lot owner damages for breach of the OC’s duty to maintain and repair common property under s 106 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015
S106 establishes the strict liability of an OC to maintain and repair its common property. Whilst it is in the same terms as its predecessor (s62 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), section 106 (5) created, from 30 November 2016, a new statutory cause of action for a lot owner to sue the OC for damages for breach of the duty to maintain and repair.
Prior to this enactment the Court of Appeal in The Owners Strata Plan 50276 v Thoo [2013] NSWCA 270 established that a lot owner had no common law right to sue the OC for damages for breach of s62.
Mr Shum, a lot owner, first notified the OC, in January 2016, that the roof was leaking into his tenanted unit. The OC did not repair the roof. Mr Shum sought orders for the repair of the roof, and the windows and interiors of his lot. NCAT ordered the OC to repair the roof to stop it leaking into Mr Shum’s unit.
Mr Shum claimed the OC had breached its duty under s106 by delaying the repair of the roof from January 2016 to May 2017. NCAT agreed. The damages sought, and awarded, of over $55,000 were for sums that Mr Shum’s commercial tenant had refused to pay due to the condition of the unit, including rent, water, council rates, levies, and interest.
The new action is available for up to two years after the lot owner becomes aware of their loss. Whilst s106 may provide relief to lot owners with claims suffered after 30 November 2016, it cannot assist those with claims preceding this date, or those outside the 2 year period.
Prior to the enactment of s106 (5) lot owners had attempted claims in nuisance but had been thwarted by the decision in The Owners Strata Plan 50276 v Thoo [2013] NSWCA 270.
In another win for lot owners, the NSW Court of Appeal in McElwaine v The Owners – Strata Plan No. 75975 [2017] NSWCA 239 determined that nuisance claims are available to lot owners thus reversing Thoo.
The OC argued that Mr McElwaine’s claim under s62 of the former SSMA was flawed as Chapter 5’s dispute resolution regime abrogated a lot owner’s ability to make a common law claim. The Supreme Court summarily dismissed Mr McElwaine’s claim at first instance. The Court of Appeal agreed with the lot owner and sent the case back to the Supreme Court for determination of the nuisance question.
“an owners corporation, as legal owner of the common property, may owe a general law duty of care or a general law duty not to create a nuisance, and not merely a statutory duty that can be enforced only through the mechanisms provided in Ch 5” and “the rights of a lot owner or occupier of a lot to enforce an owners corporation’s duty in respect of the management or repair of the common property that is owed to an owner or occupier of a lot in that capacity” is not negated by the 1996 Act.” White AJ [26]
Common strata issues that arise
Strata ownership is increasing as the urban landscape changes in Sydney.
- the identification of common property
- the obligation to repair or maintain common property
- whether consent is required for renovations,
- disputes with adjoining properties including fences, walls and trees
- the appointment of strata managers
- access
- insurance claims.
Resolution of these issues can be by simple communication with the owners corporation or strata manager, by mediation, or by adjudication or hearing in the NSW Consumer and Administrative Tribunal (“NCAT“).
Clare Peacock, Principal solicitor at Northern Beaches Construction Lawyers, provides practical advice on the many issues that can and do arise from residential living, building works, construction contracts, and strata living. These regulations are a complex web of statutes, by-laws, regulations, case law and know-how, and involving a number of parties and their obligations. It is important, when these issues arise, to involve a lawyer who is familiar with the specific area of law. This is where Clare can help.
Clare Peacock
Principal Solicitor
Northern Beaches Construction Lawyers