Buyer interest in site of alleged triple murder at Newtown boarding house

A real estate agent says the Newtown boarding house – in which three people were allegedly murdered – has enticed a range of potential buyers.

A real estate agent says a Newtown boarding house – in which three people were allegedly murdered in a fire before it hit the market – has enticed a range of potential buyers, including some wanting to restore the building and others wanting to redevelop the site.

The three boarders died inside Vajda House, which is owned by Malaysian-born property millionaire Albert Wong, 71, when an accelerant was allegedly used to spark the blaze that led to a massive explosion in March.

Mr Wong, who later spoke with homicide detectives and who has a property portfolio across Sydney’s inner west, had nothing to do with the fire and has not been charged.

Real estate agent Joe Vigorito, who is marketing the property on behalf of Romani Estate Agents, told The Daily Telegraph on Sunday some possible buyers had flagged restoring the property, while others had talked about redeveloping the site.

“We do give our condolences to the three families,” Mr Vigorito said.

The fire at Vajda House claimed the lives of three occupants. Picture: FRNSW

March 16, 2022: The boarding house was gutted by the blaze. Picture: John Grainger

“There’s a little bit of interest, in a couple of weeks we’ll know the result.

“Mainly it’s been to restore … there’s a mixture, some would like to keep it the way it is, obviously subject to council.

“Some would like to turn it into a house, that’s what they tell me.

“It’s been basically a lot of people (wanting) to restore it.”

Vajda House on June 12, now up for auction.

The property has been listed for sale as a “fire damaged blank canvas”.

Mr Vigorito also said some builders had also expressed an interest in the property.

Vajda House is due to go under the hammer on June 22.

An auction sign erected on the building described the property as a “fire-damaged blank canvas” that offers “endless possibilities”.

But a separate online advert read: “Romani Estate Agents would like to acknowledge and pay tribute to those families affected by the horrific fires that occurred here”.

One of Vajda’s occupants, Richard Hotoran, 45, was charged by police with three counts of murder over the incident and is behind bars on remand.