risk management for conveyancing: council enforcement … · 2017. 5. 12. · council enforcement...
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Presented by Paul Watkins
General Counsel, Australia Stewart Title Limited
“Conveyancing Transformed”
Victoria
Risk Management for Conveyancing:
Council Enforcement Powers &
Defects in Title
Council Enforcement Powers: Risk
Framework
Clients purchasing property with improvements (house,
garage, carport, shed, swimming pool, granny flats etc)
Generally, improvements form part of the title
Generally, improvements form part of the subject matter of
the sale
Improvements subject to Building & Planning Laws
Improvements subject to Council Compliance &
Enforcement
Council Enforcement Powers:
Unapproved & Non-Compliant Building
Works
What is unapproved/illegal building work?:
Building work which has been carried out without
obtaining a building permit
Building work which has been carried out contrary to
approved plans or contrary to conditions of any
building permit
Archicentre 2011 Illegal Building
Works Statistics
NSW 29%
VIC 33%
QLD 22%
WA 21%
SA 32%
TAS 34%
Common Types of Unapproved Building
Work Removal of load bearing walls
Illegal drainage/wiring
Addition of rooms in roof space
Addition of balconies, decks, pergolas
Conversion of structures into habitable rooms
Non-compliance with permits – unapproved
alterations to approved structures
Who is to blame?
Legislative Regime for Building Approval
in Victoria
Building Act 1993 - Section 16
Offences relating to carrying out building work
(1) A person must not carry out building work unless a building permit in relation to the work has been
issued and is in force under this Act.
Penalty: 500 penalty units, in the case of a natural person;
2500 penalty units, in the case of a body corporate.
(2) A person must not carry out building work unless the work is carried out in accordance with this
Act, the building regulations and the building permit issued in relation to that work.
Penalty: 500 penalty units, in the case of a natural person;
2500 penalty units, in the case of a body corporate.
(3) An owner of land must not permit building work to be carried out on that land unless—
(a) a building permit in relation to the work has been issued and is in force under this Act; and
(b) the work is carried out in accordance with this Act, the building regulations and
the building permit issued in relation to that work.
Penalty: 500 penalty units, in the case of a natural person;
2500 penalty units, in the case of a body corporate.
(4) A building practitioner or an architect who is engaged to carry out building work must ensure that—
(a) a building permit in relation to the work has been issued and is in force under this Act; and
(b) the work is carried out in accordance with this Act, the building regulations and
the building permit issued in relation to that work.
Penalty: 500 penalty units, in the case of a natural person;
2500 penalty units, in the case of a body corporate.
(5) Subsection (3) does not apply to an owner if the owner has engaged a building practitioner or
architect to carry out the building work on that land.
(6) Subsections (1), (2), (3) and (4) do not apply if the building work is exempted by or under this Act
or the regulations.
Council Enforcement Powers Building Act 1993 Part 8 Enforcement
S106 – “Building Notices” issued by a municipal building
surveyor or a private building surveyor
S111 - “Building Orders” prohibits occupation, carry out
building work, evacuate building
S118 - “Contravention of Emergency Order or Building Order”
penalty of up to 500 units for an individual (approx. $74,000)
S121 – “Work May Be Carried Out by Municipal Building
Surveyor” and S123 allows for the surveyor to obtain costs
from the owner or to put a bond or undertaking against the
land
Council Building Notices/Orders
Yarra Ranges Council
Banyule City Council
Whitehorse City Council
LaTrobe City Council
South Gippsland Shire Council
City of Greater Geelong
Wyndham City Council
Unapproved Building Work: Vendor
Disclosure at Common Law
Vendor is only liable to disclose ‘latent’ defects in the
vendor’s ‘title’
‘Caveat emptor’(let buyer beware) applies to all other
matters
Latent defect= one which a purchaser (or expert
employed on its behalf) is not reasonably able to discover
on inspection of the property
Patent defect= a defect visible to the eye or which a
purchaser inspecting the property with reasonable care
ought to discover
Defects in Title v Defects in Quality
A defect in title affects the vendor’s ability to pass an
unencumbered title to the property
It covers those matters within the vendor’s knowledge
which detract from his right to convey the estate he has
agreed to sell or which prevent him from conveying his
title free of encumbrance’ ‘: Holland J in Dormer v Solo
Investments [1974] 1 NSWLR 428
By contrast, a defect in quality affects the quality (value/use)
of property but not vendor’s ability to pass title, such as
structural issues, termites, contamination, noise and
even whether a property is haunted.
Unapproved Building Work: Defect in
Title?
Fletcher v Manton [1940] HCA 32
Maxwell v Pinheiro (1980) 46 LGRA 310
Borthwick v Walsh (1980) 41 LGRA 144
McInnis v Edwards (1986) VR 16 161
Carpenter v McGrath (1996) 40 NSLR 39
Falcone v Mentyn (2003) TASSC 79
McInnes v Edwards per Justice Kaye
“the material time for the purpose of conveyance for
determination whether a defect in title exists is at the
time when the parties entered into their contractual
relationship. The existence then of an order made or
direction given in the exercise of a statutory power
imposing a burden or charge on land or the
improvements thereon constitutes a latent defect in
title. However, the mere existence of circumstances
which create the possibility or probability or risk that
the property will at a future date be subject to a
statutory charge or burden does not constitute a
latent defect in title.”
Timing is Everything!
At time of signing a contract– existence of
unapproved building work means a potential
future order is a defect in quality and therefore
need not be disclosed at common law
After contract date– unapproved building work
which subsequently attracts a building order will
constitute a defect in title
Vendor Disclosure: Contract
Section 32 of the Sale of Land Act 1962
Contract of the Sale of Real Estate - Condition 21
‘Notices’ – allocates liability to the purchaser for
post-contract notices
Risk Environment in Victoria
Limited Vendor Disclosure – Building Permits obtained in the last seven (7) years
Limited Warranties – no warranty regarding compliance with building permits
Risk of Council Orders after Contract Signed?
Limited Remedies
Many clients rely on s 32 Statement – make no further enquiries with Council
Clients take risk of unapproved building work
Title Insurance in Victoria
Stewart Title opened office in Victoria in 2004
– Residential, Strata, Commercial, Rural, Vacant Land
Developed a large claim portfolio over last 13 years
Most common source of claims:
Unapproved Building Work
Boundary Encroachments
Outstanding Rates/Levies
Defence of Title
Recent Examples
Non-Compliance with Building Permit
Insured purchased a house for $1,650,000.
House situated on waterfront.
Following settlement, substantial storms affected locality
resulting in water penetration to windows/sliding doors
Investigations revealed all windows/sliding doors installed
not the correct specification for locality
Council required all windows/sliding doors to be replaced
to bring dwelling into compliance with building permit
Claim Resolution
Stewart Title arranged for removal and replacement of
approx 12 sliding doors and windows
Total cost of window replacement $96,524.25
Ensured no further breach and no further action from
Council
Premium Paid $1058.75
No Excess
Non-Compliance with Subdivision Consent
Insured purchased vacant land for the purposes of
constructing a dwelling.
The land has been recently subdivided and was subject to a
number of conditions of consent.
One of the conditions related to the location of the
“crossovers” – one of the “crossovers” should have been
removed but wasn’t.
Insured discovered that the “crossover” they intended to use
breached the conditions of consent –house plans based upon
existing ‘crossover’.
Claim Resolution
Stewart Title engaged a planning expert to provide advice
and options
Ultimately due to the traffic conditions, the “approved”
crossover had to be retained.
House plans had to be altered to ‘flip’ the house to
accommodate the approved crossover
Claim cost approx. $8,000
Premium Paid $274.73 – No Excess
Non-compliant building work in the media
Non-compliant building work in the media
Non-compliant building work in the media
Unapproved additions
Insured purchased a house in 2014. House approximately 40
years old
A number of “additions” had made over the years, including a
spa room addition
A few years after settlement, insured decided to rent the
property. Engaged a property agent who advised spa
required a safety barrier
Insured disputed this and approached Council. Council
identified spa room unapproved. Also confirmed that spa
required a safety barrier!
Claim Resolution
Stewart Title engaged planning and building consultants to
provide advice and options
Spa room non-compliant and not structurally sound.
Spa room required demolition
Insured covered for demolition and “make good” costs and
loss in market value
Claim cost over $50,000
Premium Paid $363.00 – No Excess
Unapproved Conversion
Insured purchased B&B in rainforest area in 2013 – well
established and good reputation
Purchase Price over $1million
B&B also included gallery and tea rooms
Insured had intention of making improvements after
settlement
Insured organised own design group to start plans
Submitted plans, Council checked their records
Council issued Notice, permitted use and disability access
main concern
Non-compliant Verandah &
Unapproved Kitchen & Living Areas
Insured purchased a residential property in 2015
Insured approached Council for approval to build a
swimming pool
Council advised Verandah not compliant with
approval
Following further inspections discovered kitchen and
living areas also not compliant
Claim Resolution
Instructed Building Consultant to inspect property
Substantial non-compliance with Building Regulations
Stewart Title indemnified Insured for costs of
rectifying unapproved structures
Costs exceeded $23,000.
Encroachment of Unapproved Structures on
Council Land
Insured purchased property for $1.6 million
Sold the property in 2013
Discovered significant encroachment of retaining
walls/gardens/drive-way
Encroachments subsequently disclosed to Purchaser
Purchaser threatened to terminate contract/sue for
damages
Claim Resolution
Stewart Title negotiated Deed of Settlement with Buyer.
Stewart Title agreed to negotiate acquisition of Council
land or licence from Council on behalf of new Buyer.
If Council land could not be acquired Stewart Title agreed
to fund demolition and rebuild of encroaching structures
and pay loss in market value (for land ‘lost’)
Stewart Title engaged law firm to manage the process.
Council refused to sell or licence land
Conclusion
Title insurance covers risks which predominantly fall outside of the safety of the Torrens System
Risk management involves implementing controls to reduce or eliminate risk.
Innovation – new ways to offer value to clients, adapt to changing market, competitive edge
Nothing replaces the exercise of due care and skill
Title Insurance adds an additional layer of protection
QUESTIONS?
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