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Keith Bourdon erects an auction sign at the home of Mary Bobalas. The home has been listed for auction by the NSW sheriff after Waverley Council has taken action to recover costs for the numerous clean ups. Source: News Corp Australia
- Hoarder house being sold for land value only, so tenants included
- NSW Sheriff listed property to recoup clean-up costs owed to council
- Rubbish has continued to escalate to alarming levels at home
- No price guide, properties of similar size in area fetched $1.7m plus
THE rubbish-strewn house owned by Sydney’s worst hoarders, the Bobolas family, has been put on the market.
Despite needing a serious clean-up, fumigation and renovation, the property at 19 Boonara Ave in Bondi is prime real estate in the tightly-held beachside suburb.
There is a twist for interested buyers, however, as the home is being sold as “not vacant possession†and further court action would need to be taken to remove the residents.
The property has been the centre of controversy for years with more than $350,000 of ratepayers money spent trying to control the tonnes of rubbish accumulated by owners Mary, Elena and Liana Bobolas.
Mary Bobolas watching one of the many court-ordered clean-ups of the Bondi house. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
Elena Bobolas attempting to stop workers clearing her property during a council court-ordered clean up. Picture: Ben McClellan Source: News Corp Australia
Last year the NSW Sheriff’s Office was instructed to recover about $180,000 of the cleaning and legal fees owed to the council, associated with the Boonara Ave property.
It has now put the property on the market in an attempt to recoup the money.
“Waverley Council has attempted to address the major public health and safety problems associated with the continual hoarding that has taken place at the Bondi property in the last 25 years, which has included cleaning it almost 15 times,†a council spokesman said.
“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.â€
The home in Boonara ave, Bondi, pictured today, is still surrounded by junk and filth. Source: News Corp Australia
The Californian-style bungalow has been listed for auction on February 17 with Raine & Horne Double Bay agent Ric Serrao and is described as being in one of the suburb’s most desirable streets.
Mr Serrao said the home was being sold for land value only and while there was no access inside the property for open for inspections, he expected it to still be hotly contested.
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On a large block of land within walking distance to the beach, the freestanding dilapidated house “offers plenty of scope to build your dream home (subject to council approval)†says the auction advertisement.
A Bobolas sister guards rubbish outside Thrifty truck rentals on Bourke Rd, Alexandria after a hire vehicle was repossessed. Picture: Tim Hunter Source: News Corp Australia
There is no price guide, but properties of similar size in the area have sold in the $1.7 million to $1.9 million range.
Most recently a fully renovated freestanding home sold at 25 Boonara Ave for $2.8 million in November.
Waverley Life Director Cathy Henderson said she really felt for the family but it was not fair for the ratepayers to continue footing the clean-up bills and neighbours deserved the right to live in a clean and safe environment.
She said the amount of rubbish had escalated to alarming levels.
Workers clean-up the Bobolas house in April last year. Picture: Ross Schultz Source: News Corp Australia
“The situation on the street is intolerable. It’s a public health and safety issue for the family, and for the nearby residents,†Ms Henderson said.
“We know there are underlying factors causing this problem but the hoarding has occurred at a much quicker pace since the last clean up.
“We really feel for the family and we have sought to connect them with local support services and agencies.â€
She said the council would continue to encourage the family to accept support offered to them.
The Bobolas family are so attached to their rubbish that in April, members of the family were photographed keeping guard over a pile of refuse in Alexandria, 15km from home.
A rental truck they were using had been repossessed and their belongings were cast from the truck to the footpath.
The Bobolas family will vacate the Boonara Ave property. Picture: Bradley Hunter Source: News Corp Australia