A couple residing in an apartment block has been awarded €47,200 in damages after works on the common area and the lift took longer than the maximum period established in a private contract.

Legal proceedings had been filed five years ago by the couple, who lived in a  Mosta apartment which they bought from Elton Debono in 2006.  The court heard that Mr Debono had committed himself to finish the common area by the end of October 2010, and install the lift by the end of December that year.

Failure to meet these deadlines would automatically trigger a daily fine of €100. These conditions had been agreed to through a private contract, which was presented in court. The seller had also deposited €4,000 as a guarantee in case he would not meet the deadlines.

The court, presided by Madame Justice Anna Felice, noted that it had seen sufficient evidence to be convinced that certain works had only been carried out in May 2011 while the lift was not operational until July that year. It ruled that the contractor must pay the couple €47,200.