If you’re after an apartment with amazing views of the Sydney CBD at a reasonable price, you’re in bloody luck, mates. There is no single catch to the deal, rather, there are several.
Its owner, Siak Hong Law, was renovating the small property when he suddenly up and left the country 10 years ago – allegedly to Malaysia – and has never returned or contacted anyone since. That’s right, folks, we got ourselves a ~property mystery~.
“He just disappeared,” said James Natoli from Ray White Surry Hills. All attempts to contact Mr. Law have been fruitless and as such, the NSW authorities are selling the top-floor studio apartment to recover over $200K worth of unpaid rates, levies and interest.
The property, 72/3-5 Darley Street, Darlinghurst, will be auctioned tomorrow and is expected to bring in around $375,000.
So, does anyone know where old mate Siak went? “No idea,” said Mr. Natoli. “I think he had a Malaysian background and took off back home. I spoke to one person in the building who knew of him, he was living in the building when they moved in 10 years ago, but they didn’t know him personally. He’s a mystery man.”
Given the median sale price for units in Darlinghurst clocked in at $917,500 as of July this year, this is actually cheap as fuck for the area, which brings us to our next catch – it’s “completely unliveable”.
“It’s pretty much like the person’s started renovating 10 years ago and [left],” Mr. Natoli said. “There have been water leaks from the laundry directly above, a lot of leaks in the roof, cracks in the walls in the bathroom. It’s only 32 square metres as well.”
The views are pretty damn sweet, though. The property’s listing on Realestate.com.au includes a picture of the actual vista and would you have a bloody look at it? Look at that shit below. Look.
Fuck me, that’s NICE. The interior? Hmm, not so much.
The listing also makes it clear that the apartment is in a “completely unrenovated condition and in need of some TLC”. When spruced up, investors could expect $450 per week in rent. Let me remind you at this point that the unit is only 32 square meters in size.
So just to recap, this tiny studio apartment with an amazing view will set you back close to $400K, is totally unliveable as it is, and a bloke named Siak may or may not rock up one day wondering why you’re living in his home.
Ahhh, Sydney property.
