Growth in mould claims

Posted 26 May 2022

Category: Building Defects

Dealing with complicated issues concerning mould in buildings is becoming more and more prevalent in NSW.

Some points worth considering are:

• The science and expertise surrounding the dangers, such as, poisoning and infection from mould is increasing and moving across from Europe and the US. Owners may face personal injury or abatement of rent claims.
• Owners corporations may be responsible where the mould is caused by a failure of the common property.  This is usually from either inadequate membranes or ventilation.
• In strata schemes these owners may have a right to claim this as part of a damages claim in respect of the scheme’s failure to repair and maintain the common property.
• Mould may be caused by lifestyle issues, which are not related to a failure to repair and maintain the common property.  In addition, mould may be caused by ventilation issues which have been introduced to a building by restrictive BASIX requirements which affect the ventilation measures that a builder can install in a building.
• Suitably experienced specialists should be properly briefed and retained to advise on these issues.
• Where the new 2 and 6 year statutory warranty for new buildings applies and owners are trying to claim the waterproofing defects within 6 years and outside 2 years, it is expected that more and more expert reports from mycologists will be required to establish that the part of the building cannot be used to due to health dangers arising from the mould.
• The strata reform which commenced in 2016 changed the landscape for the personal liability of strata committees and of the owners corporation in respect of failing to address mould issues adequately.  For instance, in many cases owners corporations will have a strict liability under section 106 of the Strata Schemes Management Act 2015, whereby negligence of the owners corporation is no longer required to be established.
• The application of the scheme’s strata insurance policies in relation to liabilities for losses arising from mould varies from contract to contract which contain many varying exclusion clauses.

Owners, tenants or owners corporations facing problems with mould will be well advised to seek advice on the liability of the builder, developer, strata committee, owner, tenant  or owners corporation  as this is a complex area which continues to become more complicated with strict time limits requiring adherence or otherwise barring of the claim may occur.

***The information contained in this article is general information only and not legal advice. The currency, accuracy and completeness of this article (and its contents) should be checked by obtaining independent legal advice before you take any action or otherwise rely upon its contents in any way.

Related Articles:

• Building Defects Overview
• How to Minimise Building Defect Risks
• Don’t Blame it on the Rain: 5 Point Action Plan for Building Water Penetration
• So What Happens if the Owners Corporation Does Not Fix the Building?