Vancouver duplex owners file lawsuit after dispute allegedly led to collapse of $1.8 million sale

The owners of one half of a Kitsilano duplex are suing the owners of the other half after a “toxic” dispute over common property allegedly led to the collapse of a $1.8 million real estate sale.

Maria Pappas and Panagiotis Pappas, who own the property at 3257 West 2nd Ave., say that they had been living with their neighbours, Jordan Mark Bower and Maureen Culver Elworthy, for more than a year with no discussion of legal or property issues until January 2021.

Bower and Elworthy own the property at 3255 West 2nd Ave. The two properties are collectively a strata corporation, although the corporation has never complied with strata laws and there have never been annual general meetings and there is no budget and no council meetings, according to the lawsuit.

The dispute arose when Bower proposed what the plaintiffs are calling a “complete” redrawing of all common property space on the outdoor areas of the homes, says the lawsuit.