Sheriff cancels Bobolas hoarders home auction offering at Bondi

Sheriff cancels Bobolas hoarders home auction offering at Bondi
Jonathan ChancellorDecember 7, 2020

The rubbish-strewn property owned by Sydney’s worst hoarders, the Bobolas family, has been withdraw from tonight's auction.

The Bobolas family had come forward to settle the existing judgments of around $180,000 with the Sheriff's Office on the day leading up to tonight's scheduled auction.

The property at 19 Boonara Avenue, Bondi is prime real estate in the tightly-held beachside suburb, so much so that 64 contracts had been issued during its marketing without a single inspection.

It was expected to sell for $1.8 million plus given the 550 square land size at its proposed Raine & Horne auction. The house was bought in 1973 for $15,000.

The funds had to be received and cleared to stop the auction going ahead. The property had no registered mortgage on its title. Property Observer noted four writs on the title.

It was the first sheriff's auction undertaken by the Raine & Horne veteran Ric Serrao in his 24 years selling Bondi property.

       AT BONDI
       LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA WAVERLEY
       PARISH OF ALEXANDRIA   COUNTY OF CUMBERLAND
       TITLE DIAGRAM DP9503

    FIRST SCHEDULE
    --------------
   

    SECOND SCHEDULE (5 NOTIFICATIONS)
    ---------------
    1   RESERVATIONS AND CONDITIONS IN THE CROWN GRANT(S)
  * 2   AI745374  WRIT BY WAVERLEY COUNCIL. WRIT. NO 2012/00226206.
                  ISSUED 2/9/2014. LOCAL COURT
  * 3   AI745377  WRIT BY WAVERLEY COUNCIL. WRIT NO.2009/00347285.
                  ISSUED 2/9/2014. LOCAL COURT.
  * 4   AI745378  WRIT BY WAVERLEY COUNCIL. WRIT NO. 2006/00301254.
                  ISSUED 2/9/2014. LOCAL COURT
  * 5   AI745379  WRIT BY WAVERLEY COUNCIL. WRIT NO. 2009/00349854.
                  ISSUED 2/9/2014. LOCAL COURT.

Positioned in one of the suburbs most desirable streets, the freestanding dilapidated house offered plenty of scope to build your dream home subject to council approval.

The land which could become a duplex strata project is a short walk to public transport, local cafes, restaurants & shops.

The property has been the sad centre of controversy for decades with more than $350,000 of Waverley ratepayers money spent trying to control the tonnes of rubbish.

Waverley Council has attempted to address the major public health and safety problems associated with the continual hoarding at the Bondi property over the last 25 years, a council spokesman said on its listing.

“The Land and Environment Court has ordered the owners of the property to pay the costs on each occasion, however, the council has never received payment,” the listing read.

Council have said the situation is a public health and safety issue for the family, and for the nearby residents.

As a result of the civil court judgment, the Sheriff's Office engaged Raine & Horne to conduct the marketing and auction of the property.

The auction of the property had been expected to occur on 17 February at 7.30pm at private rooms.

The Sheriff sets a reserve price for any such property.

The proceeds from the sale are then used to pay outstanding debts that are owed as well as Sheriff and real estate agent costs.

If there are any remaining funds after debts have been paid, then the debtor will receive the rest.

Potential buyers were advised that unless the rubbish is removed prior to the sale, then the property will be sold as is.

The Sheriff's Office does approximately 20 land sales a year in Sydney.

Sheriffs do not initiate land sales, they are simply agents who execute the auction on the order of the courts.

Land sales only occur if the debt is higher than $10,000 and there are no other assets.

Once a notice of land sale is issued, the debtor can clear the debt of their own accord right up to the day of sale.

As often properties are sold with occupants and/or tenants still living in them, buyers purchase the properties knowing they have to apply for a writ of possession at the Supreme Court.

Jonathan Chancellor

Jonathan Chancellor is one of Australia's most respected property journalists, having been at the top of the game since the early 1980s. Jonathan co-founded the property industry website Property Observer and has written for national and international publications.

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