Real estate sign seen outside burnt Melbourne house, alleged domestic violence scene

A striking photo taken outside a townhouse destroyed by the owner’s ex-partner – who died after lighting it on fire – has attracted concern online.

It’s chillingly out of place.

A “Live In or Rent Out” sign at an alleged domestic violence scene where a man died lighting his ex-partner’s house on fire.

But that’s exactly what’s on a Melbourne street following the alleged arson attack that ravaged the property and left the accused with fatal injuries.

Thankfully, the woman who lived there escaped unharmed, along with her cat.

The two-storey home at Pascoe Vale was completely destroyed. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

The blaze tore through the Pascoe Vale home in Melbourne’s northern suburbs about 5am on Tuesday.

The sole resident, a woman in her 60s, lost the first home she had ever owned and everything inside it.

Her 65-year-old ex-partner was rushed to hospital under police guard with burns to 80 per cent of his body, before dying on Tuesday night.

The man believed to have lit the fire died with severe burns. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

Police believe the man broke a window and was burned after lighting the fire.

Members of the public expressed their shock at the incident online, as well as the placement of a real estate agency sign on the front fence of such a sombre site.

The sign, which reads “Live In or Rent Out”, was advertising another townhouse within the same block.

Firefighters rushed to the well alight house early Tuesday morning. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

“Either way, you cannot lose when you become the lucky new owner of this delightful townhouse. Conveniently located with local schools shops and public transport only a short walk and positioned nicely opposite the Northern golf course,” the sign reads.

One comment on a thread about the sign on the website Reddit read its placement “makes it look like the burnt one is for sale”.

The sign boasts about the ‘delightful townhouse’. Picture: Andrew Henshaw/NCA NewsWire

Another person wrote: “That’s just awful. Both the story and the house.”

But the chief executive of Stockdale and Leggo real estate agency, Charlotte Pascoe, said the sign had been erected well before the fire destroyed the front townhouse.

Ms Pascoe said out of respect to the occupants of the front townhouse who had lost their home, planned open inspections were immediately cancelled.

She said plans were well under way to remove the sign.

“No one wants to see anyone in distress, and we feel great sympathy for the people who had been living in the front townhouse,” she said.

“The property we look after is not related to this incident in any way, however we had already decided to cancel the inspections and remove the sign, and we are working with the contractors to ensure it is gone as soon as possible and any potential crime scene is not disturbed.”

Witnesses at the scene reported seeing blood splattered across the footpath as the accused returned seeking help for his burns.

Neighbours living in the rear unit were forced to break a fence to escape, but were fortunately uninjured.

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesperson said the two-storey unit was found fully alight and contained in 20 minutes.

Police said they’re investigating the fire and will prepare a report for the coroner.

They urged anyone who witnessed the incident, or has information, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.