It’s been reported that several of The Block 2023 homes are now empty despite selling for big bucks on auction day.
The November auctions were wildly successful for several teams last year. However, nearly a year on from their multi-million-dollar sales, the Hampton East properties don’t seem to be faring too well.
According to Daily Mail, some of the Charming Street homes are in disrepair, with one neighbour joking that instead of setting up shop in Daylesford next year, The Block 2025 can come back and refurb last year’s builds!
Another source told the outlet that House One (built by Kyle and Leslie Cottone) became a “running joke” during the season.
“Kyle and Leslie were building ‘the house that no one would want’. Which was how builders referred to their efforts throughout last year,” the insider said.
Despite the house being bought for $3.1 million by millionaire Adrian Portelli, nobody is living in it.
Adrian, who is the founder of the popular giveaway company LMCT+, attempted to raffle the property off. However, the winner opted to pocket prize money instead of House One. Ouch.
Is anyone living in Steph and Gian Ottavio’s winning The Block 2023 house?
Even Steph and Gian Ottavio‘s winning house has failed to find its “happily ever after,” according to Daily Mail.
Like House One, Adrian “struggled to get anyone to actually take the residence” after purchasing it for a whopping $5 million.
“There was a lot of buzz around this particular home, and everyone, including Steph and Gian, were baffled to see the first winner of the raffle pass in the option for a cash prize over the house,” a source dished.
“The home is currently leased out to a family who won a later raffle. While Steph and Gian haven’t really looked back as they haven’t had time, reportedly being onto bigger and better things.“
The home featured during the August 19 episode of The Block 2024, during which last year’s winners toured the house with current contestants Kristian and Mimi.
How have the rest of The Block 2023 houses fared since auction day?
Adrian also purchased Eliza and Liberty Paschke‘s property but has also had trouble raffling it off.
“You can tell these houses get rushed,” one insider told the outlet of “shortcuts” taken during the renovations.
According to Daily Mail, Adrian eventually offloaded the house to a private owner in a $1 auction. This happened after the first raffle winners opted to take the prize money instead.
As for the show’s “villains”, Leah and Ash Milton‘s house eventually sold to a private owner who lives in House Two as a family home.
Meanwhile, Kristy and Brett Beames‘ house also has “very happy tenants”.
It comes as The Block 2024‘s Phillip Island properties were revealed to have selling price guides in the range of $1.7 million to $1.85 million.
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