Background
This proceeding concerned two lots (1 and 5) (‘the Property’) owned by a Dr Siddiqui in a plan of subdivision. His son, Najee Siddiqui (Najee), is the occupier of the Property. Adjacent to Lot 5 are the following two areas of common property.
- To the south is a small room containing a toilet (‘the Toilet’). This opens directly into the garden area of Lot 1 and there is a northern door that opens directly into Lot 5. As a consequence, access through either route requires going through the lots owned by Dr Siddiqui.
- To the east is an area of common property used by Najee as a storage area (‘the Storage Area’). Despite running alongside lots 5, 6 and 7, the only access point is through a door from lot 5.
Dr Siddiqui sought orders pursuant to s34D(1)(a) of the Subdivision Act 1988 (Vic) (‘the SD Act’) (which allows members of a body corporate to apply to VCAT to alter the plan of subdivision in the absence of a unanimous resolution) to create a new Lot 5A that combined Lot 5 with the Toilet and the Storage Area.
In response, the body corporate alleged that Dr Siddiqui and Najee had breached Model Rules 4.1(1) and 4.3(1) by obstructing access to part of the common property and sought orders requiring them to reinstate the common property and provide access to all lot owners.
Section 34D SD Act Application
S34D(3) of the SD Act lists the matters VCAT may consider when determining whether to amend a plan of subdivision in the absence of a unanimous resolution. The relevant consideration in this case was whether the amendment would be ‘likely to bring economic or social benefits to the subdivision as a whole greater than any economic or social disadvantages to the members who did not consent to the action.’
Senior Member Warren determined that the other lot owners would not lose any right to access the common property in question if the amendments that were sought were made because they did not have physical access to the Toilet or the Storage Area anyway without trespassing onto Dr Siddiqui’s property.
Also, the other lot owners would obtain an economic benefit if the amendments were made because they would pay less insurance premium as the common property area would be reduced. This meant that, on balance, the amendment regarding the Toilet benefitted the subdivision as a whole.
However, evidence was given by an expert that the Storage Area was originally designed to be a ‘fire protection void’. The Senior Member held that the safety implications it had for the other lots meant it would not be appropriate to make an order requiring the body corporate to transfer the Storage Area to Dr Siddiqui.
Model Rules Breaches
The body corporate alleged that the applicants had breached Model Rule 4.1(1), which states that ‘[a]n owner or occupier of land must not obstruct the lawful use and enjoyment of the common property by any other person entitled to use the common property.’
Najee had placed a lock on the toilet door, which the OC argued obstructed the lawful use and enjoyment of the common property. However, because other lot owners had to trespass over Dr Siddiqui’s land to reach the Toilet, the tribunal held that there was no breach of Model Rule 4.1(1).
The body corporate also alleged that the applicants had breached Model Rule 4.3(1), which states that ‘[a]n owner or occupier of a lot must not damage or alter the common property without the written approval of the owners corporation.’
Dr Siddiqui installed a concrete floor and some electrical works within the storage area. Senior Member Warren determined that Siddiqui’s argument that the alterations were improvements was irrelevant as the work had been done without the consent of the body corporate. Consequently, it was held that either or both applicants had breached Model Rule 4.3(1).
Orders
Senior Member Warren ordered that the body corporate transfer the Toilet to Dr Siddiqui upon payment by him of $5,000 to the body corporate along with all costs associated with the registration of the amended plan of subdivision.
Conclusion
The case usefully sets out the types of matters that will be taken into consideration when determining whether to amend a plan of subdivision in the absence of the agreement of all lot owners. More particularly, it is interesting how the tribunal considered the pros and cons of the proposed amendment to the other lot owners.
