Betta Build Group Pty Ltd v El Baba [2019] NSWDC 331

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Betta Build Group Pty Ltd v El Baba [2019] NSWDC 331 Hearing dates: 3 – 7, 11, 21 June 2019 Date of orders: 17 July 2019 Decision date: 17 July 2019 Jurisdiction: Civil Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 328 Catchwords: BUILDING AND CONSTRUCTION – construction works for residential dwelling – whether breach of statutory warranties under Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) – whether works defective or incomplete.

DAMAGES – whether Bellgrove v Elridge measure of damages applicable – relevance of sale of dwelling to purchaser – whether scope of rectification works as proposed by home owner's building expert reasonable and appropriate.

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – referral of issue of costs of rectification to referee. Legislation Cited: Home Building Act 1989 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bajic v Paraskevopoulo, (New South Wales Civil & Administrative Tribunal, Senior Member Charles, 22 May 2018) Bellgrove v Elridge (1954) 90 CLR 613 Brewarrina Shire Council v Beckhaus Civil Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 248 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Director of War Services Home v Harris (1968) Qd R 275 Home Owners of Strata Plan 80458 v TQM Design & Construct Pty Ltd [2018] NSWSC 1304 Hyder Consulting (Australia) Pty Ltd v Wilh Wilhemsen Agency Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 313 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 P & M Kaye Ltd v Hosier & Dickinson Ltd [1972] 1 All ER 121 Pisano v Dandris [2014] NSWSC 1070 Tabcorp v Bowen Investments Pty Ltd (2009) 236 CLR 272 The Home owners – Strata Plan No. 66375 v King [2018] NSWCA 170 Westpoint Management Ltd v Chocolate Factory Apartments Ltd [2007] NSWCA 253 Wheeler v Ecroplot Pty Ltd [2010] NSWCA 61 Willshee v Westcourt Ltd [2009] WASCA 87 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Betta Build Group Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Mr El Baba (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Thomas (Plaintiff) Mr M Klooster (Defendant)