Linda Reynolds returns to $1.05m home she could be forced to sell after defamation case against Brittany Higgins, David Sharaz

Senator Linda Reynolds has been seen returning to the home she could be forced to sell to fund mounting legal bills from her defamation case against Brittany Higgins.

Linda Reynolds has returned to her Perth home after the parliament sitting fortnight, as the clock ticks down on her expensive defamation case against Brittany Higgins and her husband.

The West Australian senator has previously revealed she would be forced to sell her Perth home as a result of the civil action, which is continuing in the Supreme Court.

The three bedroom, two bathroom property located in the Perth suburb of Como was purchased by Senator Reynolds and her partner Robert Reid in 2018.

They paid $1.05 million for the home, according to property records.

Senator Linda Reynolds has returned to her home in Perth after the parliament sitting fortnight, all while her defamation case against former parliamentary staffer Brittany Higgins continues. Picture: NewsWire

Senator Reynolds has previously said she may have to sell her home as a result of the defamation action, which could cost her more than $1 million in legal bills alone. Picture: NewsWire

The average house in Como currently sells for $1.25 million, according to the Real Estate Institute of Western Australia (REIWA).

Senator Reynolds is facing a legal bill which could run more than $1 million - which could force her to sell the house.

Her legal action against Ms Higgins and her husband, David Sharaz, concerns a number of social media posts the pair made in 2022 and 2023.

The posts were critical of Senator Reynolds’ handling of Ms Higgins’ allegation she was raped in Parliament House in 2019 by her then-colleague, Bruce Lehrmann.

Senator Reynolds and her partner bought the Como home for $1.8m in 2018. Picture: NewsWire

Mr Lehrmann was charged with rape and faced trial in 2022, but it was aborted due to juror misconduct.

Prosecutors then dropped the charge and abandoned a planned retrial over concerns about Ms Higgins’s mental health.

Mr Lehrmann continues to maintain his innocence.

Ms Reynolds is suing Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz over a number of social media posts critical of her handling of Ms Higgins’s rape allegation in 2019. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

During a subsequent civil defamation case in April, the Federal Court determined, on the balance of probabilities, that Mr Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins at Parliament House.

He is appealing that decision.

Senator Reynolds’s civil action against Ms Higgins and Mr Sharaz has proved costly, with Sky News reporting she had told her Coalition colleagues she will lose the house “regardless” of the outcome of her defamation case.

She also has another home in Bali, Indonesia, according to her record of interests.

Ms Higgins and her husband have also suffered major financial setbacks as a result of the defamation action.

Brittany Higgins. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

David Sharaz. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sharon Smith

Earlier this year she revealed she would be forced to sell her $700,000 house in France in order to defend the case brought by Senator Reynolds.

The pair purchased the five-bedroom chateau in Lunas after moving overseas last year for a “fresh start”.

Senator Reynolds has also brought new legal action against Ms Higgins over the trust that holds part of the proceeds of her multi-million dollar compensation payment from the Commonwealth.

Ms Higgins was set to receive a $2.4m compensation payment as part of the settlement with the government.

The new writ is seeking an order to return the settlement funds to Ms Higgins - allowing Senator Reynolds, a potential creditor, to claim against the trust should she be successful in her defamation case.

Originally published as Linda Reynolds returns to $1.05m home she could be forced to sell after defamation case against Brittany Higgins, David Sharaz