741 HUNTER STREET NEWCASTLE WEST

STRATA TITLE – appeal from order of Tribunal awarding damages to a lot owner for breach of the statutory duty in s 106(1) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015 – duty to properly maintain and keep in a state of good and serviceable repair the common property and any personal property vested in the owners corporation STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – meaning of 2 year limitation period in s 106(5) of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015

STRATA TITLES – obligation of owners corporation to maintain common property in good repair – owners corporation breached obligation, causing damage to lot owner – NCAT authorised to make orders to “settle” a complaint or dispute about strata scheme – whether NCAT authorised to award damages to lot owner – consideration of nature of lot owner’s cause of action – consideration of conferral of jurisdiction and power upon NCAT – consideration of legislative history – consideration of interaction of jurisdiction of courts and NCAT – appeal allowed, NCAT authorised to award damages. TORT – breach of statutory duty – statute authorised lot owner to recover damages for breach of statutory duty – consideration of nature of lot owner’s cause of action.

COSTS – costs on appeal – whether costs should be ordered in favour of successful party – whether public interest litigation – significance of any change in the law COSTS – costs at first instance – whether first instance costs order should be reversed following a successful appeal