Canberra buyers win $31,980 after realtor hid strata repair levy
An ACT court awarded buyers $31,980 after a real estate agent failed to disclose a building repair levy before they signed.
A Narrabundah townhouse came with a hidden surprise: a $31,980 bill for roof repairs on shared building parts. The owners corporation had set up a special fund to fix the leaking roof, and this townhouse's owners had to pay their share.
The problem was that Belle Property, the real estate agent, never told the buyers. The buyers only found out after the contract was signed.
The buyers went to court arguing the agent broke the rules by not revealing the liability. The sellers agreed they hadn't disclosed it, but claimed the buyers should have checked the owners corporation records themselves.
The magistrate disagreed. He said the buyers had no reason to doubt the contract's promises and the vague references to past water leaks in the owners corporation minutes weren't enough warning.
He ordered the sellers to pay the $31,980.
- $31,980
- Buyers' liability
- $195,000
- Total repair fund
- 2 September 2023
- Auction date
- 1 November 2023
- Levy due date
Why it mattersReal estate agents must now clearly disclose building repair levies or buyers can sue for the full amount.
AustraliaACT strata property buyers should request written confirmation of any special levies before signing, and can hold sellers liable if levies are hidden.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 10 d ago
