A multi-million dollar home was accidentally burned to the ground by a real estate agent in one of Sydney’s most prestigious suburbs.
Urban Development Institute of Australia President Col Dutton says the way to solve the housing crisis is “coordination” between the nation’s states. Mr Dutton joined Sky News Australia to discuss the ongoing housing crisis after a new report showed the supply of new homes will crash to its lowest levels in a decade within two years. “I think from the top down it’s fantastic to see the federal government having a go in regard to housing supply,” he said. “They’ve got a number of initiatives. “But I think the best thing they can do is really incentivise the states for approvals at the front end.”
Sydney real estate agent Julie Bundock was preparing for an open house at a four-bed home on Sydney’s northern beaches when she noticed the current renters of the house had left some bedding on the deck to dry.
She removed the sheets and threw them in a downstairs room onto a shelf below a light, which she then switched on.
About 20 minutes later a major fire broke out in the four-bedroom house on Riverview Road in Avalon Beach, believed to be caused by the shelf and bedding heating up and catching fire due to the wall-mounted light.
The fire in May 2019 resulted in a major response from emergency services. Picture: Supplied
The house – estimated to be worth around $3 million – along with all of its contents, was destroyed.
The owner of the property, Peter Alan Bush, who was preparing to sell the property, took the matter to court; as did the four renters of the property who had their belongings destroyed in the fire.
Mr Bush was planning to sell the property. Picture: Supplied
Mr Bush told the court that after the fire, Ms Bundock said words to the effect of: “Oh my God Pete, I think I have burnt down your house,” he claimed she said in the presence of others, including his de facto partner Lynne Emanuel.
“I had been doing some tidying up. I collected some sheets drying on the veranda and threw them on top of a freestanding metal shelving in the bedroom under the stairs. I just threw them there Pete, right up against the light on the wall. I think that’s what started the fire.”
Sydney real estate agent Julie Bundock was preparing for an open house when she accidentally started a fire. Picture: Domain Residential Northern Beaches
Chief Judge in Equity Justice David Hammerschlag handed down his Judgment on Tuesday in the Supreme Court, ruling that Bundock “actively created the risk of fire and the consequent harm”.
Judge Hammerschlag ordered Ms Bundock’s employer, Domain Residential Northern Beaches, to pay Mr Bush $740,642 for the loss of his house and a combined $121,475 to the four renters, Elise Coulter, Reggie Songaila, Lauren Coulter and Ella Eagle.
Reggie Songaila, Lauren Coulter, Elise Coulter and Ella Dixon lost almost all of their belongings in the Avalon house fire. Picture: Supplied
Judge Hammerschlag also ordered the agency to pay interest on the combined $862,315, from the time of the fire in May 2019.
“That a fire might be caused by putting or throwing bedding up against a burning light is obvious. That risk was plainly foreseeable, and Bundock ought to have known this,” he stated in his decision.
The house pictured prior to the fire. Picture: Supplied
Judge Hammerschlag also noted that Ms Bundock was an “aggressive and uncooperative witness” in court.
“Her evidence was clearly coloured by a heightened awareness that she had caused the catastrophe,” the decision stated.
Domain Residential Northern Beaches attempted to argue that Mr Bush and the renters also played a part in the damage as they did not inform the agency that the shelf would heat up as a result of the light.
The court heard the sheets may have been damp at the time, which could have contributed to the fire. Picture: Supplied
Judge Hammerschlag rejected this suggestion.
“The submission is made in the context where none of the plaintiffs could have possibly or remotely conceived that Bundock might do what she did,” he stated.
“There was no occasion which could reasonably have called for the suggested disclosure. Bundock acted on her own motion. Her actions were the sole cause of the harm.”
Domain Residential told news.com.au they did not wish to comment on the judgment. Ms Bundock was contacted for comment.
sarah.keoghan@news.com.au