Betrayal Behind of Connected Walls: A Neighbour Calamitous Effect on Our Award winning Sanctuary
In the heart of Lawrence street Melbourne stood our loving sanctuary of greater than 20 years, a concealed garden amidst the chaos of its streets. For 30 years, it was a beautiful place of solacement, a haven of beauty and safety.
As an prestigious architect creator, my friend had tirelessly provided to our community with numerous urban creative proposals, but of these none were more beloved that the innovative design of the Lawrence Street, Alexandria, Victorian conversion. Conspicuously in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was hailed as a creative masterpiece, blending Victorian magic with modern-day elegance.
The Victorian transmutation was a testament to architectural ingenuity—a three-story build and renovations to a Victorian style terrace, offering a home for a family and a home office. The highlight was the light tower, high above the roof with suspended stairway, capturing the core of the southeastern and north west sky. French sash windows adorned the main bedroom, while timber casement windows embellish in the bathroom frame the views and filter the light.
However, this pleasant existence was shattered when our neighbour, a builder, moved in next door. Initially welcomed, his actions soon turned our lives upside down threatening the safety of everyone in the area. Without due diligence, he began demolishing a major supporting wall on our property, the main load supporting wall of our master bedroom. At one point he had setup a hose from his roof diverting water into our office, causing over some several thousand dollars damage to the upstairs rooms, and undermining the footing of the house.
Further to outline the lack of construction experience, we discovered that the intermediate wall lacked the required fire rating, a critical omission that endangered everyone's safety. Despite our pressing attempts to seek resolution the problem with the builder and contacting the council, we were informed the builder's inspector had already approved on the project, ignoring our concerns and leaving us open to harm.
In spite of receiving a judgement in their favour and compensation for the damages incurred, the toll was abysmal and created many unpleasant memories. They were forced to sell their beautiful home, we mourned the loss of our garden refuge, another casualty of government negligence and dicey construction practices. The lack of proper oversight and governance by local government allowed this tragedy to unfold, highlighting the need for greater accountability and protection for homeowners.
As we grapple with the consequence of this trial, we are left to ponder: What help do owners have when their greatest financial investment are made vulnerable by the negligence of others?
When to Start - Voting the Capable and Worst Construction Companies in Commonwealth of Australia..?
The Failed, Fugitive, and the ending of Property CorporationBillion Dollar Regime Toplace
from Sept 2023
A Accused building adviser played a crucial role in secured his insolvency company a highly lucrative job — oversight of the dissolution of Suspect Jean Nassif's property empire, which sunk under debts exceeding $1.24 billion, incl. $88.5 million owed to suppliers and tradespeople.
Brand New disclosures about the downfall of Nassif's Toplace group have surfaced in documents presented to the Federal Court this week by administrators from dVT Group. These papers show that secured creditors such as banks with mortgages, are owed $1 billion.
Further Applicable Subject Matter:
Riad Tayeh, and Toplace's Skyview development in Castle Hill.
Unsecured creditors, have made claims with a total estimated $244 million.
Court filed claims also indicate that Riad Tayeh, business founder of dVT Group of companies, which was involved in a fundamental duty in securing his businesses designation as administrators. In spite of being proclaimed insolvent in May last year with millions in debt in debt, Tayeh, now a business consultant, and business colleague Antony Resnick went to essential meetings with Toplace top managers in the days before the firm's appointment as bankruptcy administrators.
Included in those attending the meetings on June 2020 was Jean Nassif's 29-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, whose Certificate to practice Law has been suspended while she fights charges related to a $150 million fraud tied to Toplace's Skyview construction development in Castle Hill.
Riad Tayeh was charged insolvent in May last year.
Just before the meetings, a warrant was issued for the arrest of Jean Nassif, 55, who fled Sydney for Dubai in December 2022. Jean and Ashlyn Nassif are accused of fraud to secure a $150 million loan from Westpac.
In June, Resnick and fellow dVT partner Suelen McCallum were nominated voluntary bankruptcy administrators for Toplace, following a resolution passed by Jean Nassif, its sole director The administrators now face the task of handling one of New South Wales' largest corporate collapses.
According to Toplace's website, Jean Nassif's company has delivered around 30,000 residential units, shopping centers, and commercial properties throughout Sydney. Despite this, several owners' corporations have filed claims amounting to nearly $124 million to address serious defects in Toplace's buildings.
Further complicating the administrators' task a staff member suggested there may be another $400 million in loans involving Nassif entities that are not yet under administration. adding that Toplace's financial books had not been properly updated since 2021.
Sydney Buildings Falling Down... Nightmare on Builders Street?!
Continuing from my opinion piece "Holding the Line" (https://shorturl.at/4xbiF), the following stories outline a persistent sickness within the Sydney housing and property market. Despite recently updated NSW Building Property legislation, many investors are forced to buy homes that do not guarantee the safety of their money and investment.
These stories often go unnoticed and become the burden of socially righteous politicians in search of votes. The diminishing hope that government and local councils will provide a safe pair of hands for Australians striving to live the Aussie homeowner dream is disheartening.
Failures of Governance
- New Tower Block Evacuated Amid Cracks Concern: (https://t.ly/8b5Xd)
- Opal Tower Evacuation Amid Structural Concerns: (https://t.ly/vy_eG)
Betrayal Behind the Walls: A Neighbor's Ordeal
In the heart of Alexandria stood my friends David and Anne's sanctuary—a walled garden amidst the chaos of city streets. For 30 years, it was a place of solace and safety. David, an esteemed architect, had graced our community with numerous urban projects, none as beloved as the Lawrence Street Victorian conversion. Hailed as a masterpiece, it blended old-world charm with modern elegance.
The Victorian conversion featured a two-storey addition and renovations to a late Victorian terrace, highlighted by a light tower soaring above the main structure with suspended stairs. French windows adorned the bedroom, while timber casement windows in the bathroom welcomed views and filtered light.
As the design set a precedent, builders and designers began poaching the concept. This Web site a builder, purchased the single-storey terrace adjoining my friends' and sought to incorporate David's design concept into his new renovation.
Life was reasonable until Meek began demolishing the upper walls and roof of his terrace, causing horrendous noise and damage to David and Anne's wall. When confronted, Meek revealed large cracks on their wall but refused entry for inspection.
Eventually, David hired an unbiased engineer to inspect the wall at his and Anne's expense, as the City of Sydney had failed to include a Dilapidation Report in Meek's Development Consent.
The wall damage was just the beginning. David and Anne experienced flat car tires from builders' screws, water damage in their home, and other disruptive issues. Despite legal advice, they struggled to hold Meek accountable. Offers from Meek to repair the damage were refused, and my friends settled for a small sum for walls and ceiling damage.
Meek's negligence continued with a faulty stormwater system, causing further damage and concerns about termite risks. Complaints to the Council and Building Certifier were dismissed, leading to a futile letter of demand from David's solicitor.
After repeated flooding incidents and confrontations, David and Anne sought conciliation through the NSW Community Justice Centre, but the Meeks refused. Left with no choice, David and Anne sold their house and retired to the NSW far south coast. The legitimacy of private certifiers approving building works remains under scrutiny by State and Local Government and Royal Commission investigations.
Conclusion
"We did everything we could to resolve these issues; however, although we received minor compensation, it was nothing compared to the stress we endured trying to get our neighbor to build responsibly, and a state government and local council who could do nothing to protect us due to a lack of proper governance."
Australian homeowners are left to ponder: What other disasters are waiting to destroy their dreams? What recourse do house, apartment, and property owners have when their sanctuaries are threatened by greed, incompetence, and negligence? Even with recent legislation in NSW, it fails to provide complete protection for homeowners.