Inside the Sydney squatter's house that has hit the market for almost $1 million
A Sydney squatter’s house has hit the market for almost $1 million.
The “rundown city-fringe terrace” in Redfern presents “unlimited potential” according to a Ray White listing. The two bedroom, one bathroom two-storey house is also set to sell at auction with a price tag of between $900,000-$950,000.
Ray White also describes 544 Elizabeth Street as being in “unliveable condition” and requiring a rebuild.
“It presents the ultimate blank canvas,” the listing reads.
Photos inside the property show it largely falling apart with cupboard doors falling off in the kitchen, dirty tiles and an overgrown garden.
Ray White Surry Hills’s Teresa Natoli told News Corp anyone interested in checking out the property will have to rely on checking the listing.
“At the moment we are not authorised to take anybody through because it’s quite unsafe,” she said.
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In 2016, the house was at the centre of a bizarre dispute with a squatter, who identified himself as Andrew James and Andy Robert, trying to take ownership, Domain reports.
The rightful owner, Chinese-born man Paul Fuh, bought the house for $141,000 in 1991 but hasn’t been heard from since 2007.
Neighbour Paul Wilton called police but was told only the owner could make a trespassing complaint.
Mr Wilton believed the squatter used a locksmith to get in and claimed “Mr James” was trying to claim ownership of the house, renovate it and rent it out under “adverse possession”.
Under NSW law, “adverse possession” or “squatter’s rights” is a law that applies whereby someone occupies an unoccupied property for 12 years and claims ownership from the real owner.
Last month, the Supreme Court of NSW denied “Mr James” ownership of the property after hearing he’d moved out.
The property will go to auction on December 13.
