Pongrass v Small [2021] NSWCATAP 314

Civil and Administrative Tribunal New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Pongrass v Small [2021] NSWCATAP 314 Hearing dates: 17 August 2021 Date of orders: 12 October 2021 Decision date: 12 October 2021 Jurisdiction: Appeal Panel Before: Cowdroy AO,QC,ADCJ, Principal Member G K Burton SC, Senior Member Decision: (1) The Appeal Panel orders that the appeal be dismissed. (2) The appellant is to pay the costs of the respondent of the appeal. Catchwords: APPEALS-Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (RTA) – whether appeal out of time – whether leave required – whether landlord provided requisite statutory notice for the sale of the property as required by section 53 of the RT act – whether notice was served as required by RT act whether quiet enjoyment of respondent tenant was breached – reasonableness of the respondent tenant – whether landlord may claim estoppel against the tenant – whether Tribunal has power to grant equitable relief of estoppel when used other than as a defence – whether the Tribunal is an "inferior court" – whether damages awarded were excessive – COSTS – whether special circumstances exist to warrant a costs order. Legislation Cited: Administrative Appeals Tribunal Act 1975 (Cth) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Act 2013 (NSW) Civil and Administrative Tribunal Rules 2014 (NSW) Constitution Act 1902 (NSW) Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal Act 2001 (NSW) Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) Interpretation Act 1897 (NSW) Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Law Reform (Law and Equity) Act 1972 (NSW) Residential Tenancies Act 2010 (NSW) Residential Tenancies Regulations 2019 (NSW) Cases Cited: Admiralty Commissioners v SS Valeria (Owners) [1922] 2 AC 242 (HL) Allen v TriCare (Hastings) Ltd [2017] NSWCATAP 25 Amalgamated Investment and Property Co (in Liq) v Texas Commerce International Bank [1982] QB 84 Attorney-General for New South Wales v Gatsby (2018) 99 NSWLR 1; [2018] NSWCA 254 Avopiling (WA) Pty Ltd v Central Systems Pty Ltd [2015] WASC 82 Byrnes v Jakona [2002] FCA 41 Ciesiolka v Housing NSW (Social Housing) [2010] NSWCTTT 497 Collins v Urban [2014] NSWATAP 17 Council of the Law Society of New South Wales v Levitt [2017] NSWCATOD 126 CPD Holdings Pty Ltd t/as The Bathroom Exchange v Baguley [2015] NSWCATAP 21 Craig v South Australia [1995] HCA 58; (1995) 184 CLR 163 Draybi Bros Pty Ltd v Bede Diab and John Maklouf, Jihad Dib, Mohammad Chahroukdraybi Bros Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCATCD 67 Gaynor v Burns [2015] NSWCATAP 150 Glasshouse Investments Pty Ltd v Mpj Holdings Pty Ltd [2005] NSWSC 456 Guirguis v Ten Twelve Pty Ltd [2012] FMCA 307 Habib v State of New South Wales (NSW Police Force) [2014] NSWCATAP 70 Hartnett v Migration Agents Registration Authority [2004] FCA 50 House v R (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Insurance Australia Ltd t/as NRMA Insurance v Milton (No 2) [2016] NSWCA 173 Jackson v Land and Housing Corporation [2014) NSWCATAP 22 John Prendergast & Vanessa Prendergast v Western Murray Irrigation Ltd [2014] NSWCATAP 69 Jones v Director of Housing (Residential Tenancies) [2013] VCAT 2184 Kelk v Australian Postal Corporation [2014] FCA 147 Ken Sherrington v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2015] FCCA 522 Kenny v Preen (1963) 1 QB 499 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 390; [2010] HCA 32 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534; [1990] HCA 59 Lawless v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 510; [1974] HCA 35; Legione v Hateley (1983) 152 CLR 406; [1983] HCA 11 Lewin v Zhou [2018] NSWCATCD 54 Little v Neuweger (Tenancy) [2002] NSWCTTT 850 Martin's Camera Corner Pty Ltd v Hotel Mayfair Ltd [1976] 2 NSWLR 15 McNeill v The Queen (2008) 168 FCR 198; [2008] FCAFC 80 Megerditchian v Kurmond Homes Pty Ltd [2014] NSWATAP 120 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu (1999) 197 CLR 611 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Madafferi (2001) 106 FCR 76; [2001] FCA 250 Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Yussuf (2001) 206 CLR 323; [2001] HCA 30 Oshlack v Richmond River Council (1998) 193 CLR 72; [1998) HCA 11 Owen v Kim [2017] NSWCATAP 26 Ryan v BKB Motor Vehicle Repairs Pty Ltd [2017] NSWCATAP 39 SCC (Sam Construction Company) Pty Ltd v Wingate [2017] NSWCATAP 222 Shirvington v Commonwealth of Australia (No 2) [2015] FCA 522 Spathis v Hanave Investment Co-Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 304 State Rail Authority of NSW v Consumer Claims Tribunal (1988) NSWLR 473 Steak Plains Olive Farm Pty Ltd v Australian Executor Trustees Limited [2014] NSWCATAP 85 Steak Plains Olive Farm Pty Ltd v Australian Executor Trustees Limited [2015] NSWSC 289 Waltons Stores (Interstate) Ltd v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387, [1988] HCA 7 Texts Cited: A Rissman, "The Price of Quiet Enjoyment" (1999) 7 APLJ 155 Halsbury's Laws of England (3rd ed), vol 23 (1964) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Gabor Pongrass (Appellant) John Small (First Respondent) Nicole Leighton (Second Respondent) Representation: Solicitors: Ivy Law Group (Appellant) First Respondent (Self-Represented) Second Respondent (Self-Represented) File Number(s): 2021/00165171 Publication restriction: Nil Decision under appeal Court or tribunal: Civil and Administrative Tribunal Jurisdiction: Consumer and Commercial Division Citation: Not Applicable Date of Decision: 18 May 2021 Before: G Meadows, Senior Member File Number(s): RT 21/16205; RT 21/16507