Debt, disrepair and demolition: How notorious Brisbane landlord’s empire unravels

Once a real estate mogul with homes in some of one state’s priciest suburbs, this landlord now faces the forced sale of his crumbling portfolio as debts and court orders mount.

A crumbling property empire worth millions may soon go under the hammer at the hands of the State Government, as legal and financial woes catch up with one of Brisbane’s most notorious landlords.

Over several decades, Edward ‘Ted’ Amos amassed a sizeable property portfolio across Brisbane’s northside, including homes in some of the city’s most sought-after blue-chip suburbs.

But for years, the 85-year-old property mogul failed to pay land tax and council rates, allowing many of the houses to fall into such disrepair that most are now uninhabitable. At least two properties have reportedly been demolished.

Two high-value Brisbane sites, one in Ascot and the other in Albion, have now hit the market as Mr Amos seeks to repay a debt that has dragged through the courts for nearly a decade.

Both properties are listed for sale between $1.75 million and $2.95 million.

Mr Amos, who once owned at least eight properties in suburbs including Clayfield, Wooloowin, and Virginia, was first ordered in 2016 to pay more than $800,000 in unpaid rates and interest.

Mr Amos’ Newmarket property in 2015. Picture: Supplied

Although he secured a partial legal victory in 2018 that reduced the amount owed, the dispute continued until 2024, when he was ordered to pay $464,404.28 in outstanding rates, interest, and utility charges.

However, his legal troubles did not end there.

In a Supreme Court decision handed down earlier this month, the Queensland Revenue Office was granted permission to seize and sell nine of Amos’s properties, including sites in Clayfield, Ascot, Wooloowin, Newmarket, Northgate, Albion, Virginia, and Surfers Paradise, to recover nearly $200,000 in unpaid court costs.

A house owned by Mr Amos at Wellington Street, Virginia. Picture: Patria Jannides

Unless the debt is repaid in full, the properties, collectively worth millions, could be sold.

Shortly after the court decision, two of Mr Amos’s properties were privately listed for sale; a dilapidated home in Ascot and a hilltop block in Albion.

The Albion property was listed among those with significant debts, including $61,666.07 in unpaid rates, utilities and charges, and $59,358.05 in interest, according to court documents.

The Ascot property, located at 247 Lancaster Rd, is on the market for $1.75 million.

The Ascot property, located at 247 Lancaster Rd, is on the market for $1.75 million. Picture: Google Maps

The two-bedroom timber home, in a deteriorated state, sits on a 405sq m level block across from Eagle Farm Racecourse and has council approval for demolition or removal.

The listing describes it as suitable for renovation or redevelopment under low-density residential zoning.

Nearby land has undergone significant transformation in recent years, with a new home behind the adjacent property selling for $1.13 million in 2020 and now valued at over $2 million.

The second property, at 38 Lever Street, Albion, is listed for $2.95 million.

The second property, at 38 Lever Street, Albion, is listed for $2.95 million. Picture: Supplied

The 1,067sq m site spans two titles and includes a Federation-era residence currently divided into five self-contained flats, generating a combined rental income of approximately $2,150 per week.

Mr Amos originally purchased the property in 1973 for just $20,000.

The listing suggests it could be restored as a family home, subdivided, or redeveloped again, subject to council approval.

Mr Amos has spent years before the courts, facing civil litigation and financial penalties over his failure to maintain properties and pay debts, earning him a reputation as one of Brisbane’s most notorious landlords.

Originally published as Debt, disrepair and demolition: How notorious Brisbane landlord’s empire unravels