Navazi v NSW Land & Housing Corporation

The case of *Navazi v NSW Land & Housing Corporation* concerned a dispute between Mr Navazi and the NSW Land and Housing Corporation. The proceedings were heard by Bell J and Gageler J in the High Court of Australia.

The central legal issue before the High Court was whether the NSW Land and Housing Corporation had breached its duty of care to Mr Navazi, a tenant, by failing to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm arising from the presence of a dangerous dog on the property it managed. Specifically, the court considered the scope of the Corporation's duty of care in relation to the management of its rental properties and the potential risks posed by tenants' pets.

The High Court determined that the NSW Land and Housing Corporation owed a duty of care to its tenants to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable harm. This duty extended to taking reasonable precautions against risks posed by dangerous animals kept on the premises, even if those animals were owned by a tenant. The Court reasoned that the Corporation had sufficient knowledge of the dog's aggressive propensities and the potential for harm, and therefore had a positive obligation to act to mitigate that risk. The failure to do so constituted a breach of its duty of care.

The High Court allowed the appeal, finding that the Corporation had breached its duty of care to Mr Navazi.