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Victoria’s eviction ban, and other support measures for tenants and landlords in coronavirus-related hardship, could be extended into 2021.

New Consumer Affairs Minister Melissa Horne introduced a Bill to parliament on Thursday, which will prolong the state government’s residential tenancy support measures to March 28 with an option to further extend to April 26.

The Bill also seeks to extend measures to protect commercial tenants to April 26, but it still needs to pass parliament to come into effect.

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Government support for struggling tenants and landlords could be extended well into next year. Picture: Josie Hayden

The government’s rental support package was first unveiled in April and two weeks ago Treasurer Tim Pallas announced it would be extended to December 31.

The measures include a moratorium on evictions, except in specified circumstances, and rent hikes.

They also allow for rent reduction agreements to be struck, for formal dispute resolution between tenants and landlords, and for land tax relief for landlords who discount rents for struggling tenants.

In her speech to parliament, Ms Horne said: “Unfortunately, we are not yet out of the woods.

“Victoria and the world continue to grapple with the challenges of the pandemic, and we continue to need many of (these) emergency measures.”

Tenants Victoria has welcomed a possible extension.

Tenants Victoria chief executive Jennifer Beveridge labelled the Bill “welcome recognition by the state government of the great pressures tenants are facing in our state, with the challenges of a national recession and the impact of a hard lockdown in Melbourne”.

“We know renters who have lost jobs and hours are over-represented in sectors such as tourism, retail and hospitality,” Ms Beveridge said.

“They need these continued protections to shield them at a time when home is a sanctuary.”

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said any extension to these measures needed to be accompanied by a requirement for tenants to “provide supporting documentation to show they’re in financial hardship” and “an allowance for landlords to end tenancies when rent is not being paid at all”.

More resources also needed to be added to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal, she said.

The Bill will also delay the remainder of Victoria’s rental law reforms from coming into effect until well into 2021.

All 130 amendments to the Residential Tenancies Act — which included introducing minimum standards for properties, allowing renters to make minor modifications to their homes, and banning no-reason evictions — were initially due to have come into force by July 1, which was later postponed to January 1.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

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Tame Impala’s frontman Kevin Parker has purchased the Yallingup beach house where he recorded two of his critically acclaimed albums, including his first solo offering Innerspeaker in 2009, and his third album, Currents, in 2014. 

Parker bought the property at 231 Injidup Spring Road for $2.75 million. 

The iconic, yet rustic, property, dubbed Wave House, takes in world-class views of Western Australia’s south-west and has been used by high profile musicians as a recording studio and a site to stage impressive events.

Parker paid $2.75 million for the rustic home-come-recording studio. Picture: realestate.com.au

Built in the 1980s by American producer and music industry veteran Ken Eichenberg, Wave House has been frequented by some of the biggest names in the business, including the Beastie Boys, Fatboy Slim, The Waifs and Fat Freddy’s Drop as a studio retreat.

Selling agent Lee York, from JHY Realty – Dunsborough, said the vendor was delighted to know the home’s musical legacy will live on.

“The property was sold to someone who will continue to keep the music alive onsite as the property has such a strong history with the local and international music scene,” Mr York said.

Tame Impala Recording Studio House

The home offers a welcome escape from city life. Picture: realestate.com.au

The breathtaking views are the perfect backdrop for writing music. Picture: realestate.com.au

The rustic home has a cosy atmosphere. Picture: realestate.com.au

The ultimate space for musical creativity. Picture: realestate.com.au

The outdoor stone amphitheatre is a standout feature. Picture: realestate.com.au

Ocean living doesn’t get better than this. Picture: realestate.com.au

Set on 50 acres of premium oceanfront, the landholding captures spectacular views of Injidup Beach as well as Leeuwin-Naturaliste National Park. 

One of the most outstanding features of the property is the natural limestone amphitheatre, which has hosted local and international music acts and private events for up to 300 people.

The main three storey residence comprises four bedrooms and two bathrooms. There is also another two storey property with two bedrooms on the site.

The sale settles in July 2021.

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Union Quarter, Spotswood.

A more than 300 apartment Spotswood project purpose-built for renters is aiming to give tenants free or discounted gym and yoga access.

The Suleman Group has begun construction of the $275m project, named Union Quarter, which will also include a Woolworths supermarket, a Dan Murphy’s and a mix of cafes, health, fitness and retailers centred on a town square.

Three buildings designed by architects Baldasso Cortesi will range from three to eight storeys and include a mix of one- and two-bedroom apartments as well as larger loft-style homes.

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A further 34 homes will be made available to the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

Suleman group managing director Sam Suleman said after buying the site as a paddock from VicTrack 20 years ago they believed it would now meet rising demand for long-term tenancies.

“We genuinely believe in the underlying housing demand fundamentals, particularly in the fast gentrifying area of Spotswood, which has experienced rapidly rising demand for quality residential dwellings,” Mr Suleman said.

Development manager Zoran Pavlovic said they were looking at ways to give tenants cheaper or free access to an onsite gym, and would also include a private dining facility and lounges. He added that residences would be larger than those typical in institutional build-to-rent complexes.

Union Square is expected to be completed in mid-2022 and, in addition to residences, is forecast to create more than 470 ongoing jobs.

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South Melbourne’s Wayside Inn has sold.

The beers will keep flowing at a century-old South Melbourne pub, following its multimillion-dollar sale to a new publican.

The Wayside Inn has changed hands for the first time in 25 years, for an undisclosed figure understood to be in excess of the $3.7m asking price.

JLL Hotels & Hospitality Group vice president Will Connolly said the buyer intended to continue running the historic pub at 446 City Road as it was in the short term, before potentially renovating it next year.

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The pub was refurbished in 2018.

The new owner intends to keep running the pub.

They intended to benefit from the watering hole’s rare 5am general liquor licence, which gave it a late-night edge over other venues in the area.

The Wayside Inn dates back to about 1868, although the building that stands today was constructed in 1915.

Mr Connolly said it underwent a minor refurbishment in 2018, and had been operating in “takeaway mode” during Melbourne’s COVID-19 lockdown.

“It has been a fairly frequented gastropub, being close to Crown and on the light rail. It’s had a really great food reputation,” he said.

The hotel dates back to the 1800s.

A courtyard and beer garden was part of the package.

The property occupies a 587sq m block on the busy City Road and Ferrars Street corner.

It includes a large public bar, a dining room with an adjoining courtyard and beer garden, and an upstairs function room with a dedicated bar and a rooftop deck.

Mr Connolly expected the sale to give hotel owners throughout metropolitan Melbourne confidence they owned “an asset that is viable and seen by the market as a type of property that will recover”.

“The Melbourne hospitality industry has been, and continues to be, the heaviest hit since COVID-19 restrictions were implemented,” he said.

On the other side of the city, the site of beloved Carlton Irish pub the Dan O’Connell Hotel sold in July, after attracting up to 100 inquiries over a month on the market.

It’s understood the 1884 Gothic building on the corner of Canning and Princes Streets sold well in excess of its $2.5m price guide. The property’s future remains unknown.

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samantha.landy@news.com.au

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No. 42 Drumalbyn Road, Bellevue Hill sold for close to its $6.5m price guide just hours before Tuesday night’s scheduled auction.

Fund manager Tom Sendro’s luxury Bellevue Hill home was the scene of raunchy parties and an Airbnb row two years ago.

But he’s now sold it, just hours before it was scheduled to go to auction for close to its $6.5m price guide, via Matthew Ettia of Biller Property and principal Paul Biller.

Back in 2018, Sendro’s neighbours had complained to police and council after a corporate group in town for a tattoo expoo had rented 42 Drumalbyn Road.

Sendro had told A Current Affair: “A party developed in the swimming pool. Rumours were that it was a bit of a ruckus party, quite out of my control.”

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Bellevue Hill resident and Airbnb host Tom Sendro at the time of the council stoush in 2018. Picture: John Appleyard

Woollahra Council threatened him with a $5m fine. In the years since the five-bedroom, five-bathroom home with harbour and district views has been a long-term rental, earning $4000 a week.

It hit the market earlier in the year with other agents. It’s believed the highest offer had been in the high $5m range.

The house has glorious harbour views.

It was a different story on Tuesday night. “We had multiple interested parties,” Biller said.

“The ultimate buyer did not want to attend an auction so we closed the deal a couple of hours prior to the auction.

“The market’s hot — everything is selling.”

Sendro had made a couple of minor cosmetic improvements to the house since its campaign earlier in the year.

It has stylish living areas inside and out.

“We restyled it and rephotographed it and that made it look a lot better,” Biller said.

The buyers were an eastern suburbs family.

Sendro has owned the home with double garage on a 520sqm block since 1988 when it cost $1,667,500.

CUTTING EDGE DESIGN

The kitchen at 95 Moncur Street, Woollahra, looks out over a reflection pond.

The backyard.

Here’s a rare opportunity: Architect John Grove’s cutting-edge home has hit the market with a $6.2m price guide via The Agency’s Ben Collier.

The four-bedroom, two-bathroom home with double garage at 95 Moncur Street has been widely applauded, winning the Woollahra Conservation Award in 2008 and the Australian Timber Design Award in 2009.

It also received a Residential Architecture Commendation in 2011.

Grove had purchased the 247sqm site for $2.32m in 2005. It’s in the heart of the Woollahra and Paddington Heritage Conservation, but the existing house was deemed of little heritage value so he was able to build “Woollahra House 11” in its place.

The home features a well-appointed kitchen that looks out over a reflecting pond and garden.

The dining room opens to a large entertainer’s timber deck surrounded by greenery.

The bedrooms and study on the upper level – clad in timber and louvres — resemble a treehouse.

A yoga studio surrounded by a bamboo garden is on the lower level. It can be accessed separately via a parkside lane.

The property goes to auction on September 26.

A SUMMER OASIS

Moving the kitchen was the key to transforming 4 Fraser Street, Randwick. .

The property has a $4m price guide ahead of an October 10 auction.

The Randwick north home of builder Chris Griffin and his schoolteacher wife Sam has been reconfigured in the past five years to create a tropical paradise.

But with their three children grown up, the couple are now escaping the rat race to move to the Southern Highlands so the stunning home at 4 Fraser Street has hit the market with Clay Brodie of Ray White Woollahra.

The director of Burmah Constructions has completely transformed the 1920s home by moving the kitchen to the rear and adding bi-fold doors to the new pool.

Changes to the upstairs area, which houses two bedrooms, the main bathroom and a second living area, was also integral. Only the best finishes have been used.

All up there are five bedrooms and three bathrooms.

The master suite, which has a large walk-in-wardrobe and ensuite, second bedroom and fifth bedroom or study, are downstairs.

Other highlights are the 3.3m high ceilings and the new double garage accessed via the rear lane.

Brodie has a $4m price guide ahead of an October 10 auction. Thanks to Griffin’s hard work, the home is now quite different from the one purchased for $1.11m in 2002.

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Home with history – 31 Cremorne Rd, Cremorne Point.

A rare waterfront reserve home on Cremorne Point has come to market for the first time in 113 years.

Woodbury, as it is known, is believed to be one of the longest-held family homes on the lower north shore.

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It is also one of the last remaining unrenovated Torrens title properties on the prized waterfront reserve stretch of Cremorne Rd.

No. 31 was bought by Henry and Mary Glyde in 1907 and has passed from generation to generation ever since.

The original certificate of title.

The view from the front veranda in 1909.

Woodbury – 31 Cremorne Rd, Cremorne Point, in 1911.

The late owner, Kathlyn Ironside, married her husband Bruce Ironside, who lived at No. 28 Cremorne Rd, in May, 1951.

The couple lived at his home until moving back to her family home in 1952.

They raised five children at Woodbury, renovating it over the years to suit their growing family.

Mary Glyde pictured in here fernery at 31 Cremorne Rd, in 1911.

Cremorne Wharf in 1911.

The tram line at Cremorne Point in 1958, just before it was removed.

They lived at the home for the rest of their lives. Mrs Ironside passed away this year, and her family has decided the time has come to pass the property on.

Chris Lapham, of Ray White Lower North Shore, said the response from buyers had been phenomenal, with 160 groups through in the first week.

The home has it is today.

The rear of the home.

The home is on a prime waterfront reserve and has uninterrupted harbour views.

Three inspections a week have been scheduled to allow for the large number of buyers wanting to get a look at the home, which has spectacular views over Mosman Bay, and extending out across the harbour to the eastern suburbs.

The 446sqm landholding has direct access to the foreshore walk leading to Cremorne Point Wharf and Old Cremorne Wharf. Maccallum Pool is also within walking distance.

The home still has plenty of charm.

The location.

The kitchen.

Mr Lapham said it was a rare opportunity.

“There’s not really many that have been held for more than a century,” he said.

“It would have to be one of Cremorne Point’s longest-held properties, maybe even the lower north shore’s.”

The home is scheduled to go to auction on September 17, at 5pm, with a price guide of $3.8 million.

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Albury real estate is set to get a boost from Sydneysiders.

COVID-19 has accelerated a trend of Sydneysiders moving to regional NSW and the exodus from the big smoke is expected to drive up property values in key towns once the pandemic blows over.

The areas set for the biggest jump in prices included the Hunter Region, Albury, Mudgee, Orange and Goulburn, according to a study of population trends, real estate sales and infrastructure spending.

The Hotspotting.com.au research showed prices in these areas had been growing rapidly before NSW went into lockdown in March and many of the conditions that fuelled that growth still remained in place.

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This included a diversified and growing economy, improving amenities, lifestyle attractions and a lower cost of living relative to average wages.

These factors were attracting a steady flow of people from Sydney and other capitals and demand for housing was rising.

Hotspotting director Terry Ryder said the cheaper lifestyle, combined with good job opportunities, has been a particularly important factor in the current environment.

“There has been an exodus to affordable lifestyle locations but this was going on before the pandemic,” Mr Ryder said. “The difference now is more people have embraced work from home arrangements and employers are more open to allowing it so that exacerbated the trend that was already there.”

The Hunter Region was particularly well placed to have a strong rebound from the pandemic as it was close to Sydney and had a strong economy, Mr Ryder said.

This economy was based on a mix of agriculture, viticulture, mines and energy — none of which has taken a major hit from the pandemic.

Real estate values in Albury, on the Victorian border, were also in a strong position to rebound because of “good growth momentum pre-virus”, according to Hotspotting.

“It has an economy that’s been doing well because of the pandemic, not in spite of it,” Mr Ryder said.

Alex Carroll and Megan Cullen, with twins Oliver and Archer, 1, moved to Albury. Picture: Simon Dallinger

“Among its main job sectors are medical and aged care. Other big employers are supermarkets and the military … Albury is well-situated to handle the current circumstances well.”

Similar momentum was observed in Mudgee and Orange, more than 200km northwest of Sydney. Sales activity in the latter had been rising over the past year and the median house price increased 7 per cent in the year to May.

In Mudgee, the median price for houses and units increased 8 per cent over the same period. Both economies had “the right elements to succeed in difficult times”, Hotspotting noted.

Goulburn in the Southern Tablelands region was viewed as another standout market because it was a key growth point on the Sydney-Canberra corridor. Close to $120m was being spent on healthcare industry investment and about $2.5b was being spent on wind farms in the area.

Former Sydney resident Megan Cullen said the chance for a better lifestyle and a smaller mortgage made her move to Albury.

The Mudgee area is also getting a boost.

“The quality of housing you get, relative to what you earn, isn’t comparable to Sydney,” she said. “We live in a custom designed house and it’s on 1500sqm, which you’d struggle to get in Sydney.”

She learned much about the city through an Evocities campaign and realised moving to “the country” would not be a step back for her career.

“It’s been the opposite,” she said. “It’s easier to get into business and be successful here … I never felt like I lost anything by moving here but I gained a lot.”

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Victoria’s peak real estate body says a draft government plan, outlined in top-secret leaked documents, to keep the Melbourne market operating entirely online for several more weeks would cause widespread “hurt”.

The documents revealed by the Herald Sun on Thursday state that under the draft plan, the city’s real estate industry would only be permitted to operate online under a stage four lockdown extended to September 28, and also in an eased “stage three plus” phase.

That phase would remain in place until Victoria’s daily average COVID-19 cases dropped below five over two weeks, with less than three cases from an unknown source over that period.

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The REIV wants on-site auctions to resume in Victoria — with some limits. Picture: Alex Coppel

Private in-person inspections would be allowed under a stage two lockdown. But auctions would have to remain online until no new cases were recorded for two weeks, at which time the real estate sector would be able to operate more freely “with safety measures and record keeping” under stage one and stage zero restrictions.

Premier Daniel Andrews said on Thursday the leaked documents were “out of date and have no status”.

“Sunday is the day the government will announce our road map,” he said.

Real Estate Institute of Victoria president Leah Calnan said this plan has not been confirmed to her organisation, which so far had only been part of an hour-long industry call with the government that looked “at the next steps”.

“It would be extremely disappointing to see the industry remain on online inspections. It’s continuing to hurt consumers, the industry, and revenue to the government,” she said.

The REIV had instead recommended on-site auctions and open houses be revived — with COVID-safe controls in place — as an early stop on the government’s “reopening road map”.

“We know we can manage conducting auctions and open for inspections appropriately and safely,” Ms Calnan said.

“The real estate industry is an integral part of the state’s economy — 46 per cent of the state’s revenue comes from real estate taxes, like land tax and stamp duty.

“We should have been deemed an essential service (as providers of shelter).”

REIV President Leah Calnan said real estate should be considered an “essential service”.

Real estate agents, photographers, videographers, stylists, and buyers were all banned from attending Melbourne homes as a result of the restrictions introduced in early August, making it difficult to list and sell properties.

Private in-person inspections have been allowed under regional Victoria’s stage three lockdown, but auctions have had to be held online in all parts of the state.

The REIV is also calling for the Melbourne and regional Victorian markets to be brought in line as a next step.

The organisation has recommended attendance limits of 10-20 people at on-site auctions and open for inspections, depending on the size of the property.

Ms Calnan said agents should also be required to enforce social distancing, abide by strict hygiene practices that included wiping down surfaces and door handles, wear masks and gloves, and keep attendees’ details in case contact tracing was needed.

She added Melbourne-based buyers should regain the right to travel to regional Victoria to inspect homes when restrictions eased, while agents should be able to reopen their offices. But the REIV would recommend agents kept working from home when they could.

She said while the Melbourne market had managed to keep operating entirely online — with “vendors co-ordinating Zoom open for inspections and property managers able to facilitate Facebook Live opens” — activity had drastically reduced during stage four.

Barry Plant’s Spiro Drossos said reviving private inspections was key to boosting market activity.

Barry Plant Doncaster East managing director Spiro Drossos said while being able to run on-site auctions and open for inspections was preferred among agents, allowing private inspections was “the most important” step in reviving the market.

“Buyers are buying remotely. But the majority of people still want to inspect,” Mr Drossos said.

“The industry did a great job of upholding safety and distancing (before stage four), and we could still service the people who were looking at buying and selling.”

Mr Drossos said there was a “build up of properties” ready to hit the market once the inspection ban was lifted, with his agency’s Eltham, Whitehorse and Manningham offices conducting 687 virtual appraisals over August.

He urged any would-be spring vendors to start booking in photographers, stylists and gardeners now so they didn’t have to wait weeks to list.

Wakelin Property Advisory director Jarrod McCabe said while the property market needed on-site auctions and open for inspections to fully regain steam, there was no guarantee either would return this year given the pandemic’s unpredictability.

Stockdale & Leggo general manager Charlotte Pascoe said confidence would return to the market once “clarity returns, and the government lifts the messy restrictions”.

“It’s like agents, along with buyers, vendors, tenants and landlords, are at the starting gate ready to go but the gun has been lost, so we are all just waiting with no clarity on when it will go off,” she said.

samantha.landy@news.com.au

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