New South Wales Department of Housing v Hume bhnf Donna Hume & Anor [2007] NSWCA 69

Reported Decision: (2007) Aust Torts Reports 81-879

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: New South Wales Department of Housing v Hume bhnf Donna Hume & Anor [2007] NSWCA 69 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 16 October 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 28 March 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Beazley JA at 1; McColl JA at 16; Basten JA at 102

DECISION: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Appeal allowed. 3. Verdict for the plaintiff in the District Court set aside and in lieu thereof order that there be judgment for the first defendant against the plaintiff. 4. The plaintiff pay the first defendant's costs in the District Court 5. The First Respondent pay the Appellant's costs in this Court and have a certificate under the Suitors Fund Act 1951 in respect thereof.

CATCHWORDS: NEGLIGENCE - duty of care - landlord's liability - personal injury - rented premises - injury to visitor - fall off porch no more than one metre high down stairs - no hand-rails present - landlord's duty of care to visitor - breach of duty of care - whether landlord breached duty of care - whether landlord should have installed hand-rails where no statutory obligation to do so.

Crown Proceedings Act 1988 Housing Act 1985 LEGISLATION CITED: Suitors' Fund Act 1951 Supreme Court Act 1970 Supreme Court Rules 1970

Ahluwalia & Ors v Robinson [2003] NSWCA 175 Australian Safeway Stores Pty Ltd v Zaluzna [1987] HCA 7; (1987) 162 CLR 497 Baulkam Hills Shire Council v Pascoe [1999] NSWCA 431 Computer Edge Pty Ltd and Another v Apple Computer Inc and Another [1984] HCA 19 (1984) 54 ALR 767 Brock v Hillsdale Bowling & Recreation Club Ltd [2007] NSWCA 46 Francis & Ors v Lewis [2003] NSWCA 152 Harrington v Lowe [1996] HCA 8; (1996) 190 CLR 311 Jones v Bartlett [2000] HCA 56; (2005) 205 CLR 166 North Sydney Council v Pamela Plater [2002] NSWCA 225 CASES CITED: NSW Land and Housing Corporation v Watkins [2002] NSWCA 19; (2002) Aust Torts Reports 81-641 Owners Strata Plan 30889 v Perrine [2002] NSWCA 324 Sakoua & Anor v Williams [2005] NSWCA 405; (2005) 64 NSWLR 588 Sheridan & Anor v Borgmeyer [2006] NSWCA 201 Taber v NSW Land and Housing Corporation [2001] NSWCA 182 Tame v State of NSW; Annetts v Australian Stations Pty Ltd [2002] HCA 35; (2002) 211 CLR 317 Thompson v Woolworths (Queensland) Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 19; (2005) 221 CLR 234 Vairy v Wyong Shire Council [2005] HCA 62; (2003) 223 CLR 422 Wilkinson v Law Courts Ltd [2001] NSWCA 196 Wyong Shire Council v Shirt [1980] HCA 12; (1980) 146 CLR 40