Vajda House: Gutted Newtown boarding house sells for $1.45m, plans revealed

The gutted boarding house allegedly burnt to the ground by one of its housemates has sold at auction, with the buyer saying he wants to give the building a new lease of life.

The gutted boarding house set alight in March in a blaze which killed three of its occupants has sold for almost $1.5 million at auction, with the new owner saying he has big plans to reinvigorate the now derelict building.

Three boarders died inside Newtown-based Vajda House, which was owned by Malaysian-born property millionaire Albert Wong, 71, when an accelerant was allegedly used to spark the blaze which led to a massive explosion.

Mr Wong owns multiple properties and boarding houses across Sydney, particularly the inner west. He spoke with homicide detectives, but had nothing to do with the fire and has not been charged.

The property has since been boarded up by the Inner West Council with remedial work now taking place.

Romani Estate Agents were entrusted to find a new owner for the gutted boarding house, advertising the space as a “fire-damaged blank canvas” that offered “endless possibilities”.

Newtown boarding home Vajda House listed for sale as a “fire damaged blank canvas” with “endless possibilities”. Picture: Supplied

The property was subject to a closely contested bidding war, with a starting bid of $1 million. It eventually was snapped up for just under $1.5 million, selling for market value.

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

“I think the building will have a new lease of life,” real estate agent Joe Vigorito, who marketed the property, said. “The vendor is happy and it’s great we’ve sold it for market value.”

During the auction, the agency paid respects to those lives lost in the fire and asked for a moment’s silence to remember them.

The buyer was seasoned developer and building consultant Eli Farah, who purchased the property alongside a silent partner. Mr Farah said he was keen to give the house a new lease of life, while paying respect to those lives lost.

“I’m very happy, and I’m keen to do a project and redevelopment that the community may appreciate,” he said.

Investigators in March inspect the burnt premises of the house. Picture: Jeremy Piper

“I think it’s going to be very important to nod to the lives lost in the fire.

“I’ve spoken to the local community and a lot of them have been there for a while, so I think it’ll be appreciated if we can pay our respects in some way.”

Mr Farah said he’s eager to return the design to the original features of the building.

“I’m keen to get it back to its original state and retain the heritage of the property,” he said.

“But we’d be interested in then doing a great, funky retrofit inside, while retaining the old-style outside.”

The new buyer said he “went in a bit blind” with the boarding house, saying he’d asked but hadn’t received certain property information from the Inner West Council.

“Hopefully they can work with us for the best of the community and the whole area,” Mr Farah said.

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