Judge Awards Warehouse Owner $814 in Case Against Tenant Over 2020 Fire

Landlord had sued for $600k; judge finds tenant's only breach was over stamp duty

- Selina Lum

The owner of a Sungei Kadut warehouse that caught fire in May 2020 blamed its tenant for starting the fire, claiming more than $600,000 in damages in a lawsuit.

The tenant, a scrap vehicle company, countersued for unspecified losses due to the fire, alleging that the fire hose reel in the warehouse malfunctioned because the landlord had failed to properly maintain it.

The High Court dismissed both sides' claims, but ordered the tenant to reimburse $814 to the landlord for stamp duty under the tenancy agreement.

On July 18, Judicial Commissioner Christopher Tan issued written grounds setting out the reasons for his decision came out of the hose, but the landlord disputed this. Flammable liquid ignited as it leaked from the car.