Smith v Owners – Strata Plan No. 3004 [2022] NSWSC 1599

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Smith v Owners – Strata Plan No. 3004 [2022] NSWSC 1599 Hearing dates: 2 June 2022 Date of orders: 28 November 2022 Decision date: 28 November 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Mitchelmore J Decision: Summons dismissed with costs Catchwords: LAND LAW – strata title – owners corporation –maintenance and repair of common property – breach of obligation to maintain and repair common property – whether lost rental income was reasonably foreseeable consequence of breach – whether lot owners failed to mitigate loss by not renting out unit on lot Legislation Cited: Local Court Act 2007 (NSW), s 39 Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 (NSW), s 62 Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 (NSW), ss 8, 106, 111 Strata Titles Act 1973 (NSW), s 68 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s 82 Cases Cited: Australia City Properties Management Pty Ltd v The Owners – Strata Plan No 65111 [2021] NSWCA 162 B & L Linings Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2008) 74 NSWLR 481; [2008] NSWCA 187 Doppstadt Australia Pty Ltd v Lovick & Son Developments Pty Ltd [2014] NSWCA 158 Galafassi v Kelly (2014) 87 NSWLR 119; [2014] NSWCA 190 Gales Holdings Pty Ltd v Tweed Shire Council (2013) 85 NSWLR 514; [2013] NSWCA 382 Karacominakis v Big Country Developments Pty Ltd (2000) 10 BPR 18,235 Kizbeau Pty Ltd v W G & B Pty Ltd (1995) 184 CLR 281; [1995] HCA 4 Koufos v C Czarnikow Limited (The Heron II) [1969] 1 AC 350 Krolczyk v Winner t/as J Winner Building Services [2022] NSWCA 196 Lubrano v Proprietors Strata Plan No 4038 (1997) 6 BPR 13,308 Miller Steamship Co Pty Ltd v Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd [1963] SR (NSW) 948 Overseas Tankships (UK) Ltd v Morts Dock & Engineering Co Ltd (The Wagon Mound No 1) [1961] AC 388 Owners – Strata Plan 32735 v Lesley-Swan [2012] NSWSC 383; (2012) 17 BPR 32,311 Ridis v Proprietors of Strata Plan 10308 (2005) 63 NSWLR 449; [2005] NSWCA 246 Rose v Tunstall [2018] NSWCA 241 Seiwa Pty Ltd v Owners Strata Plan 35042 [2006] NSWSC 1157; (2006) 12 BPR 23,673 Shum v Owners Corporation SP30621 [2017] NSWCATCD 68 Steamship Co Pty Ltd v Overseas Tankship (UK) Ltd (1963) SR (NSW) 948 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration & Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Taouk v Ho [2018] NSWSC 1854 The Owners Strata Plan 50276 v Thoo (2013) 17 BPR 33,789; [2013] NSWCA 270 The Owners – Strata Plan No 76674 v Di Blasio Constructions Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 1067 Trevallyn-Jones v Owners Strata Plan No 50358 [2009] NSWSC 694 Vickery v The Owners – Strata Plan No. 80412 (2020) 103 NSWLR 352; [2020] NSWCA 284 Texts Cited: McGregor on Damages (21st ed, Thomson Reuters, 2021) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ross Harold Smith (First Plaintiff) Jennifer Ann Smith (Second Plaintiff) The Owners – Strata Plan No. 3004 (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Davie (Plaintiffs) Mr D Elliott (Defendant)