Port Adelaide builder Xtraordinary Constructions director Tony Xanthopoulos in email tirade at client

An expletive-riddled email exchange between a Port Adelaide builder and his client came months before the firm fell into administration.

Xtraordinary Constructions collapsed last month, owing more than $2 million in unpaid debts. Picture: Matt Loxton

The director of a now-collapsed builder abused a client over email, labelling him a “condescending prick” in an expletive-laden exchange months before going bust.

The Advertiser has seen emails from Xtraordinary Constructions Homes director Tony Xanthopoulos where he labelled the homeowner an “ass with first-world problems” in February.

Xtraordinary Constructions Homes director Tony Xanthopoulos labelled a customer a “condescending prick” months before going into administration. Picture: LinkedIn

The embattled business owner then signed off the email by telling the client to “f**k off your due for it”.

The heated exchange came after the client raised concerns with Mr Xanthopoulos and his co-director and wife Tara about delays in electrical works being completed at their home.

The Port Adelaide-based builder collapsed last month, leaving more than 40 customers in limbo and creditors chasing more than $2 million in unpaid debts.

Liquidators have been appointed to wind up the company, which had more than 40 projects, worth a total of $17m under construction or in pre-construction.

The company was called in by Kite Projects to finish incomplete projects at Dock One in Port Adelaide following the collapse of Qattro builders in September 2023, and was also working on smaller developments at Woodforde, Glanville and Birkenhead.

The homeowner, who wished to remain anonymous, said their property was plagued with leaks and electrical defects from Xtraordinary – which are now being covered by builders’ insurance.

After contacting the builder several times over more than 12 months, Mr Xanthopoulos launched an expletive-laden tirade over email.

“I didn’t create a global pandemic that put a stranglehold on the industry … this meant defects had to take a back seat for the greater good of the majority,” the email read.

“Sadly a lot of people like yourself and others think you’re the most important person out there.

“A lot of people are grateful, some are just narrow minded and dumb, but hey I could have just folded half way through and left you high and dry.”

Some residents have been waiting more than four years for their homes to be finished. Picture: Matt Loxton

The homeowner told The Advertiser the ordeal had taken a toll on their mental health.

“Xtraordinary strung us on for over a year promising to fix things and then never doing so,” they said.

The heated email exchange comes after some homeowners were forced to wait more than four years for their townhouses to be completed at the Port Dock site.

Another resident told The Advertiser she would have to fork out “tens of thousands” to fix waterproofing issues she has claimed were left by Xtraordinary in her Port Adelaide townhouse.

She’s hoping to get the keys to her property by the end of the year, after the four-year ordeal which she says was dragged out by Xtraordinary.

“We’ve been paying water rates, two lots of council rates, financially it’s been hard for everybody,” she said.

“Blind Freddy could have told you no work was going on down there.”

Liquidator Andrew Langshaw from Duncan Powell said they would work with Kite and property owners to mitigate ongoing losses and ensure completion of the projects.

“Xtraordinary has faced increasingly challenging operating conditions that have affected the entire industry,” he told The Advertiser when they closed their doors.

Kite Projects Managing Director Damon Nagel would not comment on the heated exchange, but told The Advertiser they had enlisted Metricon to finish the incomplete homes at Port Adelaide and were assisting owners at Woodforde to process their insurance claims.

Xtraordinary Constructions was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Port Adelaide builder Xtraordinary Constructions director Tony Xanthopoulos in email tirade at client