Lin & Anor v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 50276 [2004] NSWSC 88

Reported Decision : (2005) NSW ConvR 56-105

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Lin & Anor v The Owners - Strata Plan No. 50276 [2004] NSWSC 88 HEARING DATE(S) : 30/04/03, 01/05/03, 07/10/03, 08/10/03, 09/10/03, 10/10/03, 16/02/04, 17/02/04, 18/02/04, 19/02/04, 20/02/04 JUDGMENT DATE : 12 March 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J DECISION : Mandatory injunction granted requiring the defendant to connect the plaintiffs' shops to its exhaust ventilation system stayed to enable the defendant to up-grade the system and an inquiry as to damages by a Master.

CATCHWORDS : REAL PROPERTY - Strata and related titles and occupancy - Whether an owners corporation was required to up-grade an exhaust ventilation system to service the needs of a lot owner - Whether an owners corporation could refuse a lot owner access to common property under its power of management and control on the basis that the exhaust ventilation system was overloaded - Whether the exercise of that power was a fraud on the minority, a breach of statutory duty or a breach of by-laws - Whether damages were available in negligence - Whether a representation of availability of access to the exhaust ventilation system constituted estoppel by promissory representation or estoppel by convention Strata Schemes (Freehold Development) Act 1973 LEGISLATION CITED : Strata Schemes Management Act 1996 Supreme Court Act 1970 Houghton v Immer (No 155) Pty Ltd (1997) 44 NSWLR 46 Young v Owners - Strata Plan No 3529 (2001) 54 NSWLR 60 Luke v Luke (1936) 36 SR (NSW) 310 Moisley v Mahony [1950] VLR 318 Bull v Bull [1955] 1 QB 234 Goodtitle v Tombs (1770) 3 Wils KB 118 (95 ER 965) Platt v Ciriello [1998] 2 Qd R 417 Proprietors of Strata Plan No 6522 v Furney [1976] 1 NSWLR 412 Burns v National Coal Board 1957 SC 239 CASES CITED : Strata Plan No 30234 v Margiz Pty Ltd (1993) 32 NSWLR 294 Proprietors of Strata Plan 159 v Blake (1986) CCH Strata Titles Cases 30-068 Redlands Bricks Ltd v Morris [1970] AC 652 Gambotto v WCP Ltd (1994-1995) 182 CLR 432 Heydon v NRMA Ltd (2000) 51 NSWLR 1 Vatcher v Paull [1915] AC372 at 378 Nocton v Ashburton [1914] AC 932 Lubrano v Proprietors of Strata Plan No 4038 (1993) 6 BPR 97457 Avenhouse v Hornsby Shire Council (1998) 44 NSWLR 1 Perre v Apand Pty Ltd (1999) 198 CLR 180 The Commonwealth v Verwayen (1990) 170 CLR 394 Jack Lin - First Plaintiff PARTIES : Shirley Lin - Second Plaintiff The Owners - Strata Plan No. 50276 - Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2008/03 COUNSEL : Mr M D Young - Plaintiffs Mr V F Kerr - Defendant SOLICITORS : Rutland's Law Firm, Solicitors & Notary - Plaintiffs Dexter Healey, Solicitors - Defendants