Building watchdog finds defective units at Veron St, Wentworthville
Water damage in bedrooms and kitchens of multiple apartments in a western Sydney complex have posed “unhealthy, dangerous” conditions for occupants, the state’s building watchdog says.
Parramatta
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Water leaks, wall cracks and mould have riddled a Wentworthville apartment block where the state’s building watchdog has ordered a raft of problems to be fixed.
The problems were identified in four units at 33-39 Veron St after NSW Fair Trading inspectors surveyed the dwellings in December.
A failure to properly waterproof one area led to leaks in a gas and water cupboard of one unit.
In another unit, water damage and mould were uncovered in a wardrobe while a failure to provide proper waterproofing in another apartment created damage to skirting boards in the main bedroom window wall.
Recurring mould was another result of inadequate waterproofing to the concrete roof of one dwelling, which the inspection report said had “potential cracks in the slab” leading to water ingress leaks in the ceiling of the main bedroom and ensuite.
Another occupant had to endure even more trouble with leaks to the kitchen and dining area walls, skirting boards and the main bedroom wall.
“The penetration of water has led to water ingress and caused unhealthy or dangerous conditions, loss of amenity for occupants and undue dampness or deterioration of building elements,’’ the report stated.
The tenant of another apartment would have found it difficult to sleep when it rained with leaking in the bedroom wardrobe, which backs on to the ensuite which was inadequately waterproofed.
The tenant explained how the area had to be treated with mould kill and boarded up “because the entire internal area had black mould”.
Excess water was also found on a balcony where it had accumulated like a pond.
“Tenants mentioned that after it rains, if you walk on the balcony tiles, water leaks out from the tile grout joints,” the report stated.
One tenant who tapped on some balcony tiles “heard a drummy sound”.
NSW Building Commission acting director of building compliance Yolande Nyss said the repairs would be expensive but necessary.
“I give this consideration moderate weight,” Ms Nyss said.
“However, the cost to the developer must be balanced against the benefit to the occupiers to be gained from identifying the specific building work that will eliminate the serious defects.’’
The developer has between one and six months to undertake repairs.
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