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Subversiveness Behind of Shared Wall: A Neighbour Calamitous Effect on Our Award winning Home
In the CBD of Alexandria Melbourne, Australia stood our beautiful sanctuary of some greater than 20 years, a concealed special architecturally designed house and garden in the centre of the chaos of the city. For 30 years, it was a beautiful home of comfort, a haven of beauty and sanctuary.
As an esteemed architect creator, my friend had graced our city with numerous urban design proposals, but of these none were more personal and loved that the modern design of the Lawrence Street, Alexandria, Sydney, Victorian style conversion. Conspicuously in the Sydney Morning Herald, it was hailed as a creative masterpiece, blending old-world magic with neo elegance.
The Victorian transmutation was a testament to architectural creativity—a two-story build and renovations to a Victorian style terrace, offering a house for a family and a studio. The highlight was the light tower, far above the roof with suspended stairway, capturing the essence of the south east and north west skies. French sash windows adorned the master bedroom, while timber casement windows decorate in the bathroom welcomed views and filtered light.
However, our beautiful lifestyle was destroyed when a new neighbour, a fencing contractor, entered the scene next door. Initially welcomed with open arms, his actions soon turned our lives upside down threatening the safety of everyone in the area. Without proper notification, he began demolishing a major supporting wall on our property, the main load-bearing wall of our 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.
In addition to outline the absolute lack of construction experience, we discovered that the intermediate wall lacked the required fire rating, a major oversight that endangered everyone's safety. Despite our urgent efforts to rectify the issue with the neighbour's and contacting the council, the council said the builder's inspector had already approved on the construction, providing no recourse and leaving us vulnerable to fire.
Despite receiving a legal decision in their favour and compensation for the damages incurred, the toll was immeasurable and created many unpleasant memories. They were forced to sell their beautiful home, we mourned the loss of our garden refuge, another victim of government negligence and dangerous building practices. The lack of oversight and governance by government and local council allowed this tragedy to unfold, highlighting the need for greater accountability and protection for homeowners.
As we wrestle with the consequence of this experience, we are left to consider: What assistance do house owners have when their greatest financial investment are threatened by the negligence of others?
Where to Begin - Voting the Best and Incompetent Builders in Commonwealth of Australia..?
The Bankrupt, Accused, and the ending of Building CompanyToplace's Billion-Dollar Empire
from Aug 2023
A Failed building adviser was deeply solicitous with getting his insolvent company a very moneymaking building contract — supervising the disintegration of Bankrupt Jean Nassif's business empire, which went under debts surpassing $1.24 billion, including $88.5 million payable to suppliers and tradespeople.
Brand New disclosures about the failure of Nassif's Toplace group have emerged in evidence shown to the Australian Federal Court this month by administrators from dVT Group. These evidence unveiled that secured creditors, such as banks with mortgages on Toplace properties and offshore lenders in tax havens like the British Virgin Islands, are owed $1 billion.
More Relevant Information:
Riad Tayeh, Jean Nassif, and Toplace's Skyview construction in Castle Hill.
Creditors without Security, have issued financial claims with a total est. $244 million.
Australian Federal Court claims also show that Riad Tayeh, founder of dVT Group of companies, which played a key role in securing his businesses assignment as bankruptcy administrators. Despite being announced financially bankrupt in June last year with several million in debt, Tayeh, now a business advisor, and partner Antony Resnick attended crucial meetings with Toplace executives in the days before the firm's appointment as bankruptcy managers.
As well as those involved at the meetings on May 2020 was Jean Nassif's 29-year-old daughter, Ashlyn, whose legal certificate was suspended while she fights charges relating to fraud bound to Toplace's Skyview development in Castle Hill.
Riad Tayeh was legally financially bankrupt in June 2022.
Just days before the meetings, an arrest warrant was issued of Jean Nassif, 55, who escaped to Dubai in December 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 nominated voluntary administrators for Toplace. by Jean Nassif, Toplace's sole director, via email just hours prior. The administrators now face the task of handling one of NSW's largest 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. Administrators are also investigating more than 3,000 residential apartments still under development.
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.