Stephen Wayne Velik v Noreen Steingold [2012] NSWSC 860

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Stephen Wayne Velik v Noreen Steingold [2012] NSWSC 860 Hearing dates: 16, 17 & 18 November 2011 Decision date: 31 July 2012 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Slattery J Decision: Vendor has validly terminated the contract. No order made for return of the deposit. Parties invited to put submissions on costs issues. Catchwords: VENDOR AND PURCHASER - Contract for Sale of Land - conditional on subdivision - vendor serves notice said to be notice of registration of subdivision - contract requires completion required 14 days offer notice - completion does not take place - vendor issues Notice to Complete - settlement does not take place within time allowed by Notice to Complete - vendor terminates contract - whether notice of registration of subdivision complies with contract - whether Notice to Complete allows sufficient time for completion - whether vendor disabled from giving Notice to Complete by reason of vendor's breach of contract - whether contract otherwise terminable for breach by the purchasers, even if Notice to Complete invalid -whether deposit should be returned. Legislation Cited: Conveyancing Act 1919 (NSW), s 55(2A) Law of Property Act, 1925 (UK) Cases Cited: Bernard v Weingarth (1997) 8 BPR 15,651, Buchanan v Dunstan [2007] NSWSC 248 Clarke v Dilberovic (1982) NSW ConvR 55-083 Doyle v Howey (1990) 6 BPR 13,401 Forster v Jododex Australia Pty Limited (1972) 127 CLR 421 Gogard Pty Limited v Satnaq Pty Limited (1999) 9 BPR 17,171 Havyn Pty Ltd v Webster (2005) 12 BPR 22,837 Lactos Fresh Pty Ltd v Finishing Services Pty Ltd (No. 2) [2006] FCA 748 Luna Park (NSW) Ltd v Tramways Advertising Pty Ltd (1938) 61 CLR 286 Lucantonio v Ciofuli (2003) 11 BPR 21,181 Mason v State of New South Wales (1959) 102 CLR 108 Mayer v Vitale (1981) 2 BPR 9162 Schindler v Pigault (1975) 30 P& Cr 328 Poort v Development Underwriting (Victoria) Pty Ltd [1976] VR 779 Senavale v Nolan (2000) NSW ConvR 55-948 Shaddick v Dunsford Investment Pty Ltd (1990) 5 BPR 11,322 Sindel v Georgiou (1984) 154 CLR 661 Smilie Pty Limited v Bruce (1998) 8 BPR 15,893 Wilson v Kingsgate Mining Industries Pty Limited [1973] 2 NSWLR 713 Texts Cited: K.E. Lindgren, Time in the performance of contracts: especially for the sale of land, (1982), 2nd ed, Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: First Plaintiff- Stephen Wayne Velik Second Plaintiff- Laura Allison Velik Defendant- Noreen Steingold Representation: First & Second Plaintiff- R. Scruby Defendant- D.D. Knoll AM First & Second Plaintiff- Stephen Velik, SV Law Defendant- Steven Lewis, Slater & Gordon File Number(s): 2010/96975 Publication restriction: No