Betrayal Backside of Shared Walls: A Builders Disastrous Effect on Our Peaceful Shelter

In the heart of Lawrence street Melbourne stood our gorgeous refuge of greater than 20 years, a secret garden in the centre of the chaos of the city. For 30 years, it was a loving sanctuary of solace, a oasis of beauty and safety.

As an honoured architect creator, my friend had tirelessly provided to our city of Sydney with many municipal creative proposals, but of these none were more personal that the progressive design of the Lawrence Street, Alexandria, Victorian. Conspicuously in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was acclaimed as a creative masterpiece, weaving Victorian magic with neo elegance.

The Victorian conversion was a creed to architectural ingenuity—a two-story build and conversion to a Victorian semi-attached, offering a home for a family and a studio. The highlight was the light tower, soaring above the roof with suspended stairs, acquiring the essence of the south east and northwestern skies. French sash windows dressed the master bedroom, while timber casement windows embellish in the bathroom welcomed views and filtered light.

However, our idyllic lifestyle was destroyed when our neighbour, a fencing contractor, 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 major load-bearing wall of our bedroom. At one period of time he had setup a hose from his roof diverted water into our upstairs studio, causing several thousand dollars damage to the upstairs rooms, and undermining the footing of the house.

To compound matters, we through investigation found that the intermediate wall did not meet the legal fire rating, a major omission that threatened everyone's safety. Despite our urgent attempts to seek resolution the issue with the builder and contacting the council, the council said the builder's inspector had already approved on the building renovations, ignoring our concerns and leaving us vulnerable to harm.

Despite getting a judgement in their favour and recompense for the damages incurred, the toll was abysmal and created many unpleasant memories. They were forced to sell their cherished home, we mourned the loss of our award winning sanctuary, another casualty of proper government oversight and dangerous building practices. The lack of proper oversight and appropriate governance by local government allowed this tragedy to unfold, highlighting the demand for more accountability and protection for owners.

As we grapple with the effects of this experience, we are left to ponder: What assistance do homeowners have when their sanctuaries are made vulnerable by the neglect of others?

Where to Begin - Pick the Best and Incompetent Construction Companies in Australia..?

The Failed, Fugitive, and the end of CompanyToplace

from July 2023

A Fugitive building adviser played a crucial function in securing his bankrupt company a highly lucrative job — supervising the collapse of Bankrupt Jean Nassif's business empire, which sunk under liabilities in excess of $1.24 billion, including $88.5 million due to suppliers and sub-contractors.

New disclosures about the failure of Nassif's Toplace group of compaines have appeared in documented evidence presented to the Australian Federal Court this recently by administrators from dVT Group. These documents show that secured creditors such as offshore lenders in tax havens, are owed $1 billion.

Additional Relevant Subject Matter:

Riad Tayeh, and Toplace's Skyview development in Castle Hill.

Unsecured creditors, have made claims with a total est. quarter of a billion.

Court filed claims also tell that Riad Tayeh, company founder of dVT Group of companies, which was involved in a fundamental duty in assuring his businesses designation as bankruptcy administrators. Despite being declared financially bankrupt in May 2022 with several million in debt, Tayeh, now a business advisor, and business colleague Antony Resnick attended crucial meetings with Toplace executives in the days leading up to the companies appointment as bankruptcy managers.

Included in those involved at the meetings on June 2019 was Jean Nassif's 29-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, whose legal practicing certificate was suspended while she fights charges related to a $150 million fraud tied to Toplace's Skyview building development in Castle Hill.

Riad Tayeh was legally insolvent in July 2022.

Just days before the meetings, an arrest warrant was issued of Jean Nassif, 55, who fled Sydney for Dubai in October 2022. Jean and Ashlyn Nassif are accused of creating false documentation to secure a $150 million loan from Westpac.

In June, Resnick and fellow dVT partner Suelen McCallum were made voluntary bankruptcy managers for Toplace. by Jean Nassif, Toplace's sole director, via email just hours prior. The bankruptcy managers now face the task of handling one of Australia's biggest corporate bankruptcy's.

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 The administrators noted difficulty in unravelling the debt due to "intermingling of financial records," adding that Toplace's financial books had not been properly updated since 2021.

Resolution Reached for Mascot Towers, Owners to Finally Escape Longstanding Struggles...

After five years of enduring legal battles and financial burdens, relief may be in sight for the long-suffering apartment owners of Mascot Towers in Sydney. A landmark deal brokered by the New South Wales government offers a pathway for owners to sell their properties individually, potentially freeing them from debt and uncertainty.  The majority of owners have opted to accept the government's proposal, which involves selling to a third-party commercial consortium rather than pursuing a collective sale.

As part of the agreement, owners will receive a portion of the $30 million building price, along with means-tested support from the state government. Additionally, banks have agreed to reduce loan balances by up to 40% for owner-occupiers, enabling them to move out without financial encumbrances.

However, this debt-relief option is exclusively available to those who resided in the property prior to its evacuation in 2019 due to structural defects. Eligible owner-occupiers, along with select investors, may qualify for government assistance of up to $120,000, depending on their income and assets.  While the deal offers a fresh start for many, it comes with the realization that property values have significantly depreciated since the original purchase. Despite this drawback, the Minister for Fair Trading, Anoulack Chanthivong, views the agreement as a crucial step towards closure for affected owners, describing it as the end of a "dark chapter" in the state's building history.

The next phase involves determining the extent of government support for owners and ensuring that lenders fulfill their commitments. The journey towards resolution began in 2019 when residents were evacuated due to structural concerns, prompting a prolonged battle for justice and financial relief.  Throughout this ordeal, owners faced the burden of ongoing levies, mortgages, and remediation costs, exacerbating their plight. The evacuation prompted a grassroots campaign urging regulatory reforms and developer accountability, culminating in the current agreement.

To date, the NSW government has allocated $21 million in support to affected owners, underscoring its commitment to addressing the repercussions of defective building practices. As the community looks ahead to a new chapter, the resolution of Mascot Towers stands as a testament to perseverance and collective action in the face of adversity.

Paul Meek Builder,