Jean Nassif’s Toplace ordered to fix Castle Hill apartment cladding

A Western Sydney property developer’s company has been hit with urgent orders to fix defects on another of its Castle Hill apartment blocks.

Western Sydney property developer Jean Nassif’s company has been hit with urgent orders to fix cladding on a Castle Hill apartment block over waterproofing concerns which could cause “dangerous conditions” for residents, weeks after “extensive signs of cracking” were found in another of his developments nearby.

Toplace Group has been ordered to fix cladding issues at the $86 million, 378-unit Atmosphere development at Castle Hill by the NSW Building Commissioner.

It comes weeks after the regulator found “serious defects” relating to concrete slabs at the nearby $900 million Skyview development by the company.

Atmosphere Castle Hill

The orders were lodged with JKN Hills Pty Ltd, of which Mr Nassif is listed as director and secretary.

NSW building officers inspected the cladding of the Atmosphere development in February, according to the building commissioner, where they discovered the facade of the building lacked waterproofing membrane on the inside face of the tower’s cladding.

According to the Building Commissioner, the lack of waterproofing could “cause the facade system to be ineffective”, leading to water pooling which could leak into homes in the tower “causing unhealthy or dangerous conditions” for residents.

The inspectors also found there was no certified structural engineer’s design for the cladding.

The order dictates the developer must engage a suitably qualified expert within a week of receiving the order to prepare a plan to carry out remediation work on the building.

Jean Nassif with his wife Nissy. Picture: Instagram

Jean Nassif at Concord.

A Toplace spokesman said the rectification order applied to “isolated” areas and were “minor in nature” and would be fixed “promptly” at Toplace’s expense.

“The final building works rectification order relates only to the cladding and particularly that on certain balconies the cladding should be installed to finish above the tiling (as opposed to under it),” the spokesman said.

“Despite the cladding being sealed, Fair Trading takes the view that this installation method can be a waterproofing issue. The locations where this has occurred are isolated. The only remediation work required to be done is minor in nature and will be completed promptly at Toplace’s expense.”

“Toplace is very pleased by the outcome of this thorough inspection by Fair Trading.”

It’s the second order lodged against a Toplace development this month, after building commissioner David Chandler found “serious defects” in relation to concrete slabs at the nearby Skyview development.

Skyview at Castle Hill under construction. Picture: Supplied

It is alleged continuous water leaks created this crack at Skyview. Source: Supplied.

The prohibition order says the basement ground slabs “show extensive signs of cracking due to no saw joints being installed”.

Mr Chandler issued an order which effectively prohibited residents from moving into the $900 million project on Old Castle Hill Road.

A Toplace spokesman in that instance said remediation works would be “monitored by an independent structural engineer and that Toplace (will) provide surety that it will stand behind the development”.

Mr Nassif, the head of Toplace, has previously gone viral as an internet sensation due to a video in which he presents a bright yellow Lamborghini sports car to his wife while exclaiming: “Congratulations Ms Nassif. You like?”

ATMOSPHERE

No water proofing membrane in the facade which could lead to water pooling behind the cladding

Residents could be hit with dampness or ‘deterioration’ of the external cladding

SKYVIEW

Basement ground slabs show extensive signs of cracking

Basement slabs are missing expansion joints in numerous locations, causing significant concrete spalling (cracking)