The recent NSW Supreme Court case of Thorn Australia Pty Ltd v Centuria Property Funds Ltd [2021] NSWSC 1271 highlights the necessity for caution and diligence when executing and exchanging deeds, especially in property matters.
The Court was asked to determine whether a prospective lessee who had signed and delivered deeds to a lessor was bound by the deeds. The Court found that although the lessee executed the deeds, provided a bank guarantee, made arrangements regarding access and making further payments, it was held that the lessee did not objectively manifest an intention to be immediately bound by the deeds. [...]