Asher Keddie and husband Vincent Fantauzzo sued over unpaid bill from stunning $630k of Black Rock renovation

Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo have caved, agreeing to pay a builder following a three-year battle over the renovation of their $2.46m former Black Rock dream home.

Actor Asher Keddie and her artist husband Vincent Fantauzzo have caved and agreed to pay a builder after a three-year renovation battle over their former Black Rock dream home.

Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo hired the builder to take over the troubled $650,000 renovation of their former Cheltenham Rd, Black Rock, home in mid-2022.

But the dream renovation spiralled into a legal nightmare, with the couple refusing to pay the bulk of their final invoice.

After a prolonged dispute, Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo earlier this month agreed to settle a case by paying the vast majority of the $108,000 they owed award-winning Brighton builder First Ave Homes.

Documents filed in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal shortly after construction finished claimed the Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo owed the company more than $100,000.

The glamour couple settled the case earlier this month following a compulsory conference.

Conferences overseen by a tribunal member, but are closed to the public and the media.

Asher Keddie and Vincent Fantauzzo’s former Cheltenham Rd, Black Rock, home.

Through their lawyer, the couple had until recently claimed the builder was only entitled to a fraction of the final invoice, which they had paid.

They accused the builder of attempting to charge them for variations to the project without seeking proper approval, for overcharging them on some items, and for double-billing other items.

The builder refuted those claims.

Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo also claimed to have been left out-of-pocket by minor delays on site, and alleged a series of minor defects on the property as part of $56,000 counterclaim against First Ave Homes,

It is understood they will formally discontinue their counterclaim as part of the settlement.

The couple will pay their former builder a substantial sum to settle a case against them, after they refused to pay a $108k bill on their renovation project.

Documents filed with the tribunal, and obtained by the Herald Sun reveal Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo took the bizarre step of breaking into the home before handover, moving in, and changing the locks, effectively locking the builder out.

The couple claimed they had no other option because the lease on their rental was up, and the builder had flagged a minor delay in finalising works on the site.

In a major escalation, the couple then had their lawyer, Nathan Kuperholz, write to the builder alleging it deliberately delaying the project to “extract payments” out of the their celebrities.

The company vehemently denied Mr Kuperholz’s allegations.

Vincent Fantauzzo with Asher Keddie at the opening of his gallery. Picture: Tony Gough

The renovation of the stylish mid-century home, which was originally designed by renowned architect Graeme Gunn, is understood to have been a passion project for Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo.

Despite complaining about the quality of the renovations as part of their dispute with the builder, Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo’s real estate agent described the work as “meticulous” when marketing the home for sale last year.

When the house hit the market Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo’s agent described it as a “spectacular mid-century showpiece”, with the renovations resulting in “a sanctuary of indulgent luxury and sophistication”.

It ultimately sold for $2.46m.

Asher Keddie in season two of Binge series Strife. Picture: John Platt

Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo have since relocated to a home in St Kilda, where Mr Fantauzzo last year fought off an intruder who was attempting to steal one of his prized Ducati motorcycles.

Ms Keddie is busily promoting the second series of her acclaimed Binge show, Strife.

Ms Keddie and Mr Fantauzzo’s lawyer said he was instructed not to comment on the case.

Building company director Anthony Karlovic also declined to comment.