A former housing commission property in Wodonga, stripped and cleared of drug residue, has sold for $141,000.
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About 40 people attended the Elders Real Estate auction of 55 Trudewind Road, which was the subject of raids by clan lab police members in May last year.
Bids for the 550 square metre property opened at $75,000 and climbed to the $100,000 mark with about four parties vying for the sale.
The successful bidder was representing an investor who has rehabilitated similar houses.
“He’ll fix it up first and decide after what he wants to do – you’re going back to bare walls, but I’ve seen worse,” he said.
“The certificate has come with it by law that it’s been cleaned up.
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“They’ve done a big wash and cut out parts – the bathroom, toilet and laundry was alright – and there’s no smell.”
The bidder, who was not from the area, said he was aware the property had been decontaminated because of drug residue and had also spoken with a police officer present at the auction who was aware of its history.
“From what I understand with these people (who occupied the home) gone, the area has become better,” he said.
“He (the buyer) thought it would go about $20,000 less … you can’t build this house for more than $240,000 and the land is worth about $120,000.”
The Border Mail revealed last week 55 Trudewind Road is one of three public housing homes in Wodonga that have required decontamination in the past year due to meth lab chemical concerns.
Chief executive of Melbourne-based company Meth Screen, Ryan Matthews, estimated meth had been used in about 15 per cent of regional homes.