Trentelman v The Owners - Strata Plan 76700; The Owners - Strata Plan 76700 v Trentelman [2021] NSWSC 155

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Trentelman v The Owners - Strata Plan 76700; The Owners - Strata Plan 76700 v Trentelman [2021] NSWSC 155 Hearing dates: 9 March; 4, 6 and 7 May; 11 June; further written evidence and submissions ending 17 December 2020 Date of orders: 26 February 2021 Decision date: 26 February 2021 Jurisdiction: Equity - Real Property List Before: Parker J Decision: See [332]-[336] Catchwords: CONTRACT – formation and validity – proposal by owner of development lots to convert lots into non-strata blocks and build townhouses of specified height – cooperation of strata corporation required – development lot owner promised proposal would result in continuing access for strata owners to swimming pool on her land – resolution passed at general meeting – no contractual effect ESTOPPEL – proprietary estoppel – encouragement – detrimental reliance – whether lot owner's promise made to strata corporation – whether reliance by corporation – corporation entitled to easement over pool land EQUITY – rectification – mistake – strata plan of subdivision included notation that pool structures formed part of common property – notation failed to include three-dimensional space around pool structures – inclusion of notation deliberate and mistake established but intended form of plan could not be determined – rectification refused Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 54A Real Property Act 1900 (NSW), s 12 Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 (NSW), ss 5, 8A, 9 Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Regulation 2012 (NSW), cl 7 Strata Schemes Development Act 2015 (NSW), s 8 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 11 Cases Cited: Cobbe v Yeoman's Row Management Ltd [2008] UKHL 55 Crabb v Arun District Council [1976] Ch 179 DHJPM Pty Ltd v Blackthorn Resources Ltd (2011) 83 NSWLR 728 Doueihi v Construction Technologies Australia Pty Ltd (2016) 92 NSWLR 247 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Manly Council v Byrne [2004] NSWCA 123 Ramsden v Dyson (1866) LR 1 HL 129 Riches v Hogben [1985] 2 Qd R 292 Sidhu v Van Dyke (2014) 251 CLR 505 Slee v Warke (1949) 86 CLR 271 The Nominal Defendant v Gabriel (2007) 71 NSWLR 150 Thorner v Major [2009] UKHL 18 Watson v Foxman (1995) 49 NSWLR 315 Texts Cited: Heydon, J D, M J Leeming and P G Turner, Meagher, Gummow and Lehane's Equity Doctrines and Remedies (5th ed, 2015, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: 2018/312426 Natalia Trentelman (Plaintiff) The Owners - Strata Plan 76700 (First Defendant) Registrar-General, New South Wales (Second Defendant)