Mascot Towers unit owners to foot bill for repairs prompting calls for better consumer protections

PHOTO: The Mascot Towers building was built a decade ago, falling outside the statutory warranty period. AAP: Bianca De Marchi

Owners of apartments in the Mascot Towers development will be left with a hefty bill to repair structural damage as the building is too old to fall under warranty, with property experts calling for better consumer protections.

Key points:

Residents were evacuated from the building on Friday night after a “rapid deterioration” of cracks
In NSW, new building defects are covered under warranty for six years after building completion
Units in affected buildings can be difficult to sell after highly-publicised evacuations

Residents were forced to evacuate the 10-storey Sydney building on Friday night after major cracks appeared in its beams.

Temporary building props were installed in the carpark earlier in the week due to the “rapid deterioration” of cracks within a primary support beam, residents were told.

Under NSW law, building defects are covered under warranty for six years after completion of a development.