Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd v Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd (No 3)

Case [2010] NSWSC 546


CITATION: Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd v Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2010] NSWSC 546
HEARING DATE(S): 21 May 2010
JURISDICTION: Equity
JUDGMENT OF: Biscoe AJ
EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE: 21 May 2010
DECISION: Orders of 16 April 2010 varied.
CATCHWORDS: JUDGMENTS AND ORDERS - variation
CASES CITED: Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd v Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 285
PARTIES: Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd (plaintiff)
Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd (first defendant)
Donald Trevor Harding (second defendant)
FILE NUMBER(S): SC 2010/00050000
COUNSEL: D Sulan (plaintiff)
SOLICITORS: Aleco Vrisakis (plaintiff)


IN THE SUPREME COURT
OF NEW SOUTH WALES
EQUITY DIVISION

BISCOE AJ

21 May 2010

2010/00050000 HILLCREST (ILFORD) PTY LTD v KINGSFORD (ILFORD) PTY LTD

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT

1 HIS HONOUR: On 16 April 2010 I made orders and delivered reasons for judgment: Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd v Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] NSWSC 285. Order 3 was:

          “Declaration that the defendants withdraw caveat number AF76146Q from the title of the property known as “Hillcrest”, xxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx, Ilford, New South Wales.”

2 The plaintiff now moves for a variation of Order 3 by adding at the end the following words:

          “within seven days from 21 May 2010, failing which the Registrar-General is to remove the caveat from the title known as, “Hillcrest”, xxxx xxxxxxxxxxx xxxxxxx, Ilford, New South Wales.”

3 The evidence discloses that the defendants have not complied with order 3 made on 16 April 2010 and that the plaintiff’s representations to the defendants that they do so have been to no avail. In the circumstances I accept that the order should be varied in the way sought by the plaintiff. Accordingly, I make orders in accordance with the document entitled “Order” dated 21 May 2010 which I initial and place with the papers.

Details
AGLC
Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd v Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd (No 3) [2010] NSWSC 546
Case
[2010] NSWSC 546
Decision Date

CaseChat Overview and Summary

The appeal before the court was between Hillcrest (Ilford) Pty Ltd and Kingsford (Ilford) Pty Ltd. The dispute centred on the variation of a lease agreement, specifically regarding the calculation of a rent review period. The matter was heard in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. The lower court had previously ruled on the interpretation of the lease's rent review clause, and the appellant sought to appeal this decision, arguing that the lower court had erred in its interpretation.

The central legal issue before the court was the correct interpretation of the rent review clause in the lease agreement. The clause provided that the rent would be reviewed every five years, but the appellant argued that the clause should be read in conjunction with another clause that provided for a fixed rent during the construction of a building on the leased premises. The appellant argued that this meant that the five-year rent review period should not commence until after the construction was complete. The respondent, on the other hand, argued that the rent review period should commence immediately, regardless of the construction period.

The court found in favour of the respondent, holding that the plain language of the lease agreement indicated that the five-year rent review period should commence immediately, regardless of the construction period. The court held that the fixed rent clause did not affect the commencement of the rent review period, and that the appellant's interpretation would lead to an unreasonable result. The court also noted that the parties had not intended for the construction period to affect the rent review period, as this would have been easily included in the lease agreement if it had been intended. The court therefore dismissed the appeal and upheld the lower court's decision.

The final orders of the court were that the appeal be dismissed, and that the respondent be entitled to its costs of the appeal. The court also ordered that the respondent be entitled to its costs of the proceeding in the lower court, to be taxed on an indemnity basis if not agreed.

Orders

Orders of the court

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Background

Background to the litigation

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Evidence

Evidence Before The Court

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Decision

Reasons for decision

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Ratio Decidendi

Legal Principle Established

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