PHOTO: Sydney real estate agent Julie Bundock was preparing for an open house when she accidentally started a fire.
Court documents have disclosed that a real estate agent in Sydney inadvertently caused a fire that destroyed a multimillion-dollar home in one of the city’s prestigious suburbs. The agent, Julie Bundock, who was preparing for an open house of a four-bedroom property in Avalon Beach, observed bedding left on the deck by the current renters. She removed the sheets and placed them in a downstairs room on a shelf beneath a wall-mounted light, which she then switched on. Approximately 20 minutes later, a significant fire erupted in the house, believed to have been ignited by the heated shelf and bedding.
Home owner Peter Alan Bush with his current de facto partner Lynne Emanuel. Picture: Facebook
In the subsequent civil lawsuit filed by the property owner, Peter Alan Bush, and four tenants against Julie Bundock’s employer, Domain Residential Northern Beaches, the court ordered the company to pay damages totaling $740,642 to Mr. Bush and $121,475 to the tenants. Despite not being directly involved in the proceedings, Ms. Bundock was found to have been “actively” negligent in causing the fire. It was determined that Domain, as her employer, had a duty of care to execute its services with due diligence.
The house – estimated to be worth around $3 million – along with all of its contents, was destroyed. Picture: Supplied
Newly obtained court documents revealed that Ms. Bundock had a prior relationship with Mr. Bush. During cross-examination, she admitted to contacting him after realizing the house was on fire, indicating her familiarity with him over the years. Despite assertions of a messy property and rushed preparations, there was no indication of malicious intent on Ms. Bundock’s part, nor any criminal allegations against her.
The home before the fire in May 2019. Picture: Supplied
The defense attempted to attribute blame to the tenants for the fire, citing their purportedly untidy living conditions, which necessitated Ms. Bundock’s intervention. However, Ms. Bundock disputed claims of rushing and emphasized her methodical approach to preparing properties for sale.
The fire in May 2019 resulted in a major response from emergency services. Picture: Supplied
Householders Lauren Coulter (left), Joshua ‘Reggie’ Songailar, Elise Coulter and their friend Ella Dixon, with their remaining belongings outside the Riverview Rd, Avalon home they rented that was destroyed by fire. Picture: Supplied
Justice David Hammerschlag, in his judgment, characterized Ms. Bundock as an uncooperative witness, noting her defensive demeanor during questioning. Despite her objections and assertions of ignorance regarding the light fixture, the court held her accountable for her actions.
The aftermath of the fire resulted in significant losses for the tenants, who expressed relief at the compensation awarded, stating that they were pleased to put the incident behind them after five years of uncertainty.