The 30 owners of an evacuated Zetland apartment block are confronting the financial lash of a repair bill exceeding $5 million, while being told there is no one left to sue except their former lawyers.

They have also been advised that it would be “extremely difficult” to collectively sell the block to developers.

The owners corporation is also defending a lawsuit launched by a company that owns an unrelated residential development on the floors below, alleging nuisance and water seepage into its properties.

The loft apartments at 19 Gadigal Avenue were quietly evacuated over water and fire safety defects last November before cracking also forced residents out of the Opal Tower and the Mascot Towers.