Subversiveness Behind of Connecting Walls: A Neighbour Calamitous Impact on Our Idyllic Sanctuary
Treachery Behind of Connected Wall: A Neighbour Disastrous Effect on Our Peaceful Home
In the CBD of Alexandria, Melbourne stood our gorgeous sanctuary of 30 years, a concealed garden in the middle of the noise of its streets. For greater than 20 years, it was a beautiful sanctuary of solace, a haven of beauty and asylum.
As an prestigious architect designer, my friend had donated to our community with many urban proposals, but of these none were more beloved that the modern design of the Lawrence Street, Sydney, Australia, Victorian. Featured in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was acclaimed as a creative masterpiece, blending Victorian appeal with modern-day elegance.
The Victorian transmutation was a creed to architectural creativity—a two and ½-story build and renovations to a Victorian style semi-attached, providing a home for a family and a studio. The highlight was the light tower, far above the main structure with suspended stairway, acquiring the essence of the south east and north west skies. French style sash windows adorned the main bedroom, while timber casement windows decorate in the bathroom welcomed views and filtered light.
However, our idyllic existence was destroyed when our neighbour, a fencing contractor, entered the scene next door. Initially welcomed with open arms, his actions soon created absolute chaos threatening the safety of everyone in the area. Without due diligence, he began demolishing a major supporting wall on our property, the major load supporting wall of our bedroom. At one stage he had setup a hose from his roof diverting water into our office, causing several thousand dollars damage to our property and undermining its structural integrity.
In addition to outline the absolute lack of building experience, we through investigation found that the intermediate wall lacked the required fire rating, a critical oversight that endangered our well-being. Despite our pressing attempts to rectify the problem with the neighbour's and contacting the council, we were informed the builder's inspector had already approved on the building renovations, providing no recourse and leaving us open to harm.
In spite of receiving a judgement in their favour and recompense for the damages incurred, the emotional toll was immeasurable and created many unpleasant memories. They decided to sell their beautiful home, we mourned the loss of our award winning sanctuary, another casualty of proper government oversight and dicey building practices. The lack of oversight and appropriate governance by local government allowed this tragedy to unfold, highlighting the necessity for greater responsibilities and protection for homeowners.
As we wrestle with the consequence of this experience, we are left to consider: What recourse do owners have when their sanctuaries are made vulnerable by the negligence of others?
How to Begin – Voting the Competent and Incompetent Construction Companies in Australia..?
The Bankrupt, Suspect, and the ending of CompanyBillion Dollar Regime Toplace
from June 2023
A Defendant building adviser was comprehensively concerned with obtaining his insolvent business a very lucrative construction contract — oversight of the dissolution of Suspect Jean Nassif's corporate empire, which went under financial obligations in excess of $1.24 billion, inclusive $88.5 million payable to suppliers and onsite builders.
Fresh revelations about the ruin of Nassif's Toplace corporation have surfaced in documents presented to the Federal Court this week by bankruptcy managers from dVT Group of Companies. These papers reveal that secured creditors such as banks with mortgages, are owed $1 billion.
More Applicatory Information:
Jean Nassif, and Toplace's Skyview construction in Castle Hill.
Unsecured creditors, have issued financial claims with a total est. quarter of a billion. Court filed claims also show that Riad Tayeh, founder of dVT Group, played a key duty in assuring his firm's appointment as bankruptcy administrators. Even though being declared bankrupt in July 2022 with millions in debt in debt, Tayeh, now a business advisor, and colleague Antony Resnick attended important meetings with Toplace executives in the period leading up to the companies appointment as bankruptcy managers. Included in those at the meetings on Aug 2019 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 bound to Toplace's Skyview building development in Castle Hill.
Riad Tayeh was legally financially bankrupt in July last year.
Just days before the meetings, an arrest warrant was issued 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 August, Resnick and fellow dVT partner Suelen McCallum were nominated voluntary bankruptcy managers 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' biggest 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 is the web of intercompany loans among Nassif's entities, which amount to $319 million. 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. Paul Meek, 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.