Buyers were not even allowed inside this black mould-infested house but that didn’t stop it selling for an eyewatering price.
“Please note there are no inspections allowed for general members of the public, this property is being sold sight unseen,” the listing by the Public Trustee of Queensland said.
“There is known water damage and mould present.”
Buyers were not allowed inside 3 Callaway Court, Arundel
And judging by the listing photographs this was no ordinary mould, and appears to be the worst kind – black mould.
Black mould thrives on water damaged materials such as wood, plasterboard and paper and can cause a range of health symptoms such as throat and eye irritation, nasal and sinus congestion, sneezing, coughing, breathing difficulties, chest tightness and skin irritation.
“The biggest health risks come from unusually high quantities and prolonged exposure,” according to Airsafe.
“The condition known as sick building syndrome is often associated with black mould exposure.”
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Black mould in what appears to be a bedroom
The 3 Callaway Court house in Arundel on the Gold Coast recently sold under the hammer for a jawdropping $1.235 million, just $25,000 less than the suburb’s median house price of $1.26 million.
The kitchen has seen better days
That sale price was also higher than the Brisbane median house price of $1.234 million.
The median house price on the Gold Coast is now $1.451 million, according to the latest PropTrack Home Price Index.
Carpets have been ripped up
And a window has been boarded up
To put the mould threat into perspective, Queensland’s busiest police station – Logan Central Police Station – could be shuttered after black mould was reported in the building.
The police union is now pushing for an audit of all buildings.
“Similar issues around mould have now been raised by police at other QPS facilities and we have asked the service to immediately investigate these complaints and take action,” Queensland Police Union president Shane Prior said.
Senior Constable Justin Darney, 41, died in January 2023 from pancreatic cancer after exposure to carcinogenic toxic mould at the station, according to the Courier Mail.
But the presence of mould was not enough to put off buyers in Arundel, especially in light of demand outstripping the supply of homes.
It is a two-storey house
The house itself was described as “located in a quiet street near the Coombabah conservation area” and that it “could be your next fantastic project”.
It sits on a 730sq m block with approximately 25.78m frontage.
The bathroom needs to go
“In its current state the home has four bedrooms, two bathrooms, kitchen, laundry, and a double car garage,” the listing said.
But you better be prepared to pull out the PPE (personal protective equipment) – a P2 respirator, disposable gloves, safety eyewear, disposable overalls, shoe covers, even a shower cap, according to WorkSafe Queensland.
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