Ex-landlord David Sharpe spent tens of thousands of dollars on a drawn-out legal battle in an effort to get his former tenant evicted.

But his plan hit the skids when the date his daughter was supposed to be moving into the home  – getting round the no-cause rules on evictions – wasn’t declared at a Tribunal.

Eventually he would lose $28,000 in unpaid rent and more than $70,000 more in legal fees. As for the tenant, she did a bunk and left him with the bills to pay.  You can read all about that HERE.

Meanwhile a co-living development in Sydney’s Concord – where tenants have their own room and bathroom but share kitchens and communal spaces – is planning 180 homes but just 26 car spaces, in anticipation of the new Metro station being build nearby.

These are just two of the property news stories from this week’s LeftField Communications feed.

FREE ACCESS

ABC Online

Gold Coast ‘can’t stop growth’ but needs 185,000 new homes, according to council
The Gold Coast aims to accommodate 1 million residents by 2046, requiring 185,000 new homes. The council plans more medium to high-density developments in suburbs like Robina and Coomera.

Major construction starts on Adelaide’s first skyscraper Festival Tower Two
Festival Tower Two is being built behind South Australia’s Parliament House. Controversies remain about its location and transparency around how much the owner is paying the state government. Eugene Boisvert

Apartments.com.au

First Look: Immerse favours four-bed apartments in Kirra Beach switch
While most developers are aiming high across the Gold Coast, John Kearney’s Immerse Projects has scaled back its plans for its Kirra Beach project.

First Look: Woollahra development wave continues as Abadeen plots six-storey apartment block
The development wave is continuing in the affluent suburb of Woollahra following last year’s planning reforms introduced by the Minns Labor Government. In early 2025, the NSW Government implemented significant changes to its Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy, altering planning controls to allow greater density for new apartment projects within an 800-metre walking distance of stations and town centres in the Woollahra Local Government Area, overriding existing local controls.

Sustained sales momentum underpins demand at Morris Property Group’s Crest Broadbeach
Crest Broadbeach continues to record strong sales momentum more than a year after launch of second tower, reinforcing buyer confidence in the Morris Property Group development as construction progresses on site.

First look: SIERA doubles down on Chevron Island with new tower plans
South East Queensland developer SIERA has lodged a development application for a 27-storey residential tower on Chevron Island, marking its third project in the Surfers Paradise area and second within the island precinct.

Monde upsizes Prahran apartment project One Charles after “more suitable” redesign
Nick Moylan’s Monde Property is advancing plans for its Prahran project, One Charles, seeking to expand the approved scheme.

Hamilton primed for growth as apartment developers jump in
Brisbane’s riverside suburb of Hamilton is set to grow into the next apartment development hotspot. Already favoured by GRAYA and Fortis for their upcoming projects, two more site transactions have taken place, firmly putting Hamilton on the map for new apartments in the short to medium term.

DAKL Group secures prime apartment development site as East Brisbane demand grows
Developer DAKL Group has expanded its holding on Stanley Street, one of the main inbound thoroughfares of East Brisbane, acquiring an additional site to add to the property it purchased in late 2025.

Azure expands into Gold Coast new apartment market with Southport site purchase
Long-established Brisbane developer Azure is set to further expand their footprint on the Gold Coast, securing a site in Southport that will pave their way for their first new apartment development in the area.

Inside TOGA’s vision for The Kensington
It was the lack of market-ready apartments that attracted renowned developer TOGA to a prime site on Anzac Parade in Kensington, just a stone’s throw from excellent connectivity, medical, and educational facilities.

Goldfields greenlit for The Brightly, Richmond apartment development
National property developer Goldfields has secured permit approval and appointed Victorian residential builder Ironside to begin work on The Brightly, an 11-storey, wellness and lifestyle-focused mixed-use development in Richmond. Goldfields has partnered with Dexus Real Estate Partnership Fund 1 (DREP 1) as co-investor and delivery partner in the Brighton Street project.

Toorak and South Yarra earmarked for greater density as VIC Gov releases final Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres
The Allan Labor Government has revealed the remaining 23 Train and Tram Zone Activity Centres as part of their plan to try and encourage development around some of Melbourne’s most connected suburbs.

$800 million, 800-unit development permit fast-tracked for Glen Waverley carpark
Glen Waverley’s housing shortage is set to be closed by 50 per cent with the approval of 795 new apartments which will rise from a former car park in the heart of the suburb. The plans, lodged by Sunkin Property Group and now approved by the Victorian State Government Development Facilitation Program, will transform the 6,114 sqm carpark at 281 Springvale Road into an $800 million, mixed-use residential and commercial development in the metropolitan activity centre.

Domain

Townhouses in Australia: The new pathway to home ownership as house prices climb
Townhouses are now firmly on the radar of buyers who see them as a worthwhile goal, not just a second-tier option. The severe shortage of affordable houses, coupled with rising unit prices in Australia’s capital cities, is driving record demand for townhouses, which offer home buyers a much-needed middle ground, research has found. JP Pelosi

Real Commercial

$30m of Bondi ‘legacy’ for sale
When it comes to landmark buildings in North Bondi, this block is one of the heavy hitters. On the corner of Campbell and Hastings Parades, the commercial and residential property is perfectly positioned to welcome the eastern suburb’s movers and shakers.

Realestate.com.au

Boom suburbs investors are abandoning amid fears of prices peaking
Cashed up investors have been increasingly pulling their money out of booming housing markets in Queensland and Western Australia over fears they’re now peaking and offer poor rental returns.

Inside the Flinders St ‘pencil tower’ home with surprisingly big view
A Melbourne apartment in what is believed to be Australia’s skinniest residential tower has hit the market with surprisingly big views on offer and a multimillion-dollar asking price. Nathan Mawby – Melbourne

‘Political suicide’: Investor says no govt will ever slash CGT discount
One of Australia’s biggest property investors has moved to reassure others that no government will ever slash CGT discounts, warning it would be ‘political suicide’ and worsen affordability.

NSW stamp duty plunging home buyers further into debt
Excessive upfront property taxes are plunging desperate home buyers deeper into debt and adding an average of $100,000 to the cost of their homes, new research has revealed. Owen Raymond

Rare Gold Coast waterfront and retro townhouses sell for combined $4.5m
Two retro Gold Coast properties held off market for a combined 121 years have sold under the hammer after heated auctions, drawing almost 30 registered bidders across both campaigns. News Corp Australia

9 big changes coming for Aussie home buyers, renters in 2026
Home buyers and renters face a slew of new rules across the country in 2026, ranging from tighter home lending to the end of sought-after grants and tax concessions.

Fears grow over First Home scheme as Treasury reviews cost
Labor’s flagship first-home buyer support could become a bigger drain on government coffers, with Treasury officials revealing the costs of the 5 per cent deposit scheme may rise following recent interest rate hikes.

Banks’ secret test most Aussies fail for home loans exposed
Banks are combing Aussies’ bank statements for Lotto, adult content and booze spends — and seven in 10 could flunk the lenders’ ‘character’ test tied to home loans.

Victorian buyers flock to auctions despite fresh interest rate pain
Victoria’s property market is defying this month’s interest-rate rise with buyer numbers rising in the following weeks, compared to the same time a year ago. Alesha Capone – Melbourne

$100k stamp duty trap slams Vic buyers | Money.com.au
The tax burden for a Melbourne home is now so extreme homebuyers are borrowing money to fund the cost in a move experts have warned can become a “$100,000 debt sentence”. David Bonaddio – Melbourne

Brisbane one-bedroom apartment prices surge past $700,000 in fierce auctions
An auction event has set a new benchmark for one-bedroom units, with multiple apartments selling for more than $700,000 as first-home buyers vie with investors to get into the Brisbane market. Viva Hyde – Brisbane

Luxury beach complex scores staggering $300m sales win before public launch
A Gold Coast complex with more than 200 units has made more than $300 million in reservations before even going on the market. The 51-storey tower named Sandpiper Broadbeach is set to offer 204 beachfront homes for buyers, with units ranging between two and four bedrooms each. Nicholas Finch

First-home buyer trap adds nearly $100,000 to mortgages, new research reveals
A hidden first-home buyer trap is pushing young Queenslanders into bigger mortgages, with new research warning the true cost of rolling stamp duty and buying fees into a home loan can balloon into a near-$100,000 blow. Viva Hyde – Queensland

Adelaide buyers hit with Australia’s worst mortgage trap
South Australians are increasingly hitting up their lenders to cover their stamp duty to enable them to enter the market — and it means in the long run they’re paying more than anyone else in the nation. Tom Bowden – Adelaide

Canberra auction clearance rates hit four-month high
The capital’s property market has hit the ground running in 2026, defying typical seasonal slumps with a tale of two markets characterised by high supply and a tightening squeeze for renters.

Melbourne suburbs where units sell at a loss and more high-rises are coming
Up to 42 per cent of units sold have traded at a loss in some of Melbourne’s inner south-east suburbs earmarked for more development, prompting expert warnings about the feasibility of delivering more high-rises in the area.

‘My Valentine’s Day present’: Harbourside apartment sells for more than $3.7m
A waterfront apartment with uninterrupted views of the Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge sold for $3,705,000 on Saturday, with one half of the successful bidders — a couple — describing it as her “Valentine’s Day present”.

Inside the sweet success of ‘Raspberry Jam’, Canberra’s eclectic apartment transformation
When you open the door to an apartment, no matter the city, you usually know what you’ll find. White walls, coupled with a restrained palette of perhaps greys and blacks. Clean lines and minimalism.

Urban Developer

Cobild Wins Orchard Piper One Toorak Place Contract
Orchard Piper has appointed Cobild as construction partner for One Toorak Place, a $400-million mixed-use development in Melbourne’s Toorak that has already secured $150 million in sales.

SIERA Reveals Second Tower for Chevron Island
SIERA Group has unveiled plans for a 27-storey residential tower on the Gold Coast’s Chevron Island as it pushes into larger-scale, design-led projects.

Concord Co-Living Tower Plan Tests Metro-Era Parking
Plans for a 16-storey co-living scheme that pares parking requirements back to the bone have been filed for Sydney’s Inner West.

NSW Plans 2500-Home Shift for Wollongong Estate
Homes NSW wants to rezone a Wollongong suburb and add five times the number of homes under plans now on exhibition. The state agency has applied to rezone its Bellambi estate via the Social and Affordable Housing Pathway.

Immerse Projects Plots Midrise Tower for Kirra Beach
The development heat is still rising on the Gold Coast’s undercooked but surging midrise market. Among the latest plans, builder-developer John Kearney’s Immerse Projects has filed a nine-storey proposal comprising 65 apartments.

Gated Over-50s Resort Greenlit for Perth’s Northern Beaches
A $300-million over-50s gated village in Perth’s outer northern beaches has been waved ahead by a state assessment panel.

North Sydney $65.9m ‘Pencil Tower’ Recast at Metro Edge
Pre-pandemic approval for a $65.9 million North Sydney “pencil tower” is being reshaped for delivery, advancing the 31-storey office scheme more than a year after the site changed hands.

Melbourne’s Priciest Suburbs Targeted for Height Boosts
Major height uplifts in another tranche of tram and train-adjacent areas in Melbourne, including some of its most expensive suburbs, are on exhibition.

Sydney Builder Novati Calls in Administrators
A 50-year-old construction company that built one of eastern Sydney’s most expensive apartments has called in administrators, blaming rising costs and market volatility.

Dubai-Backed Arada Reveals 39-Storey Scheme for South-West Sydney
A $302.3-million scheme in Sydney’s Campsie is on exhibition, with developer Arada proposing 346 apartments under the Housing Delivery Authority pathway.

Next Stage of $1.5bn Harbour Shores Masterplan Greenlit
Lewis Land Group’s $1.5-billion decade-long development odyssey Harbour Shores—one of the Gold Coast’s largest infill projects—has been given the green light for its third stage.

Corruption and Fear Stalked Setka-Era CFMEU: Report
A scathing report submitted to the Commission of Inquiry into the CFMEU and Misconduct in the Construction Industry in Queensland alleges the Victorian branch under John Setka as an organisation that devolved from militant unionism into a “crime syndicate”.

Build-to-Rent Surge Spurs Private Developer Interest in Perth Transit Hubs
Perth’s Metronet hubs are fast becoming bankable territory. Backed by state and federal funding, 15 build-to-rent projects are moving through consultation and towards construction, providing a clearer runway for private developers to follow.

Melbourne Social Housing Revamp Forges Ahead
Victoria is pressing ahead with its social housing redevelopment initiative despite a damning parliamentary inquiry, with the latest plans for a Clifton Hill project now on exhibition.

Pay-walled

The Age

How much debt households had when interest rates were 17 per cent, compared to now
Australian households are carrying almost three times as much debt as they were in 1990, most of which is housing debt, Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows. Experts said the increased debt load was magnifying the impact of interest-rate movements on household budgets. Dan F Stapleton

The big stink over a plan for more than 1000 homes
A Cranbourne golf club established in the 1950s by Melbourne Jews who had been barred from other courses due to antisemitism will be closed down and potentially redeveloped into a new suburb with more than 1000 homes, under a local council proposal.

The Australian Financial Review

NSW launches crackdown on construction industry corruption
The NSW government has introduced new rules to stamp out unlawful behaviour on major government building sites, with authorities warning top-tier builders to prepare to face investigations into their supply chains including on taxes and industrial relations. David Marin-Guzman

‘Safe haven’ Australia private credit growth to outstrip US: Qualitas
Alternative investment manager Qualitas says demand for private credit will grow faster in Australia than in the US, and this country’s safe haven status is attractive for offshore investors, and as housing affordability drives a growing demand for larger apartments that require more capital to build.

The council rule that adds $93,000 to the cost of an apartment
Parking spots add $93,000 to the construction cost of mid-rise apartments in Sydney, a report for the NSW government has revealed, adding to calls to relax parking requirements to improve housing affordability. The cost of building an apartment in a four to nine-storey building in Sydney has risen by an average of 6 per cent a year from $666,000 in 2018 to $905,000 in 2023, a Centre for International Economics report for NSW Treasury found.

They wanted to buy land and build. They bought a $715,000 unit instead
The property: A newly built two-bedroom apartment at 202/115 Derby Street, Penrith, NSW. Sold by private treaty for $715,000.

Surging residential settlements push Stockland profit up 19pc
ASX-listed property company Stockland said a surge in settlement volumes at its master-planned communities more than doubled half-year development profit in its build-to-sell housing arm and powered a 19.3 per cent jump in statutory profit to $292 million.

Worried about rising rates? Top forecasters say RBA may well be done
For those worried about a spate of interest rate hikes in 2026, Australia’s top economic forecasters say the Reserve Bank of Australia could be “one and done” this year after its policy pivot this month, arguing that the sudden threat of inflation will be quickly stamped out. Cecile Lefort

Think the CGT discount is a tax break? Think again
Even if one accepts that a 47 per cent tax rate is fair for some, it is arguably unfair to middle-income earners who sell a property to be pushed into a higher tax bracket for that year. Geoff Francis – Former Treasury official

Melbourne developer presses ‘go’ on $1b Gold Coast luxury tower
A Melbourne developer is pushing ahead with a Gold Coast apartment tower project it abandoned nearly four years ago as construction costs soared, taking it upmarket with fewer, larger apartments and doubling the estimated end value from $500 million to $1 billion.

The Brisbane Times

Tallest tower in the Valley proposed as block up for sale
Plans for the tallest tower in Fortitude Valley have been published as the block of land comes up for sale. Construction on the site has not been approved, but an architect has put together the design to promote the listing of 70-82 Wickham Street ahead of a possible height-limit increase in the suburb.

The Courier Mail

Industry calls for taller height limits as 2032 Games cost crunch looms
Southeast Queensland developers warn that the Olympics construction boom will drive building costs up 10 per cent annually, forcing councils to approve dramatically taller towers. Brendan O’Malley

Graya’s seven-storey Racecourse Road tower plan opposed by council over height fears
Graya, one of Brisbane’s most high-profile builders, have stirred up a hornet’s nest with plans for a luxury unit project on one of Brisbane’s landmark retail strips. Brendan O’Malley

The Daily Telegraph

NSW faces $6.4 billion revenue loss amid warning of massive housing shortfall
NSW faces a $6.4 billion revenue hit, with the Minns government set to fall 156,000 homes short of its housing targets. James O’Doherty

Developer Abadeen plots $36m six-storey housing development for Woollahra in eastern Sydney
A major builder has lodged plans for a new ‘medium density’ residential block that could transform Sydney’s leafy Woollahra suburb. Here’s a first look at the plans.

Housing Delivery Authority lets developers bypass council and apply for bigger buildings with more units
A new approvals pathway allows developers to bypass councils and planning panels while doubling the size of their proposals. And it’s already being used to fast-track DA’s on the coast.

Secret documents reveal Premier’s department pushed for Sydney congestion tax he vowed to fight
Bombshell documents have revealed the Premier’s own bureaucrats secretly proposed a London-style congestion tax despite his election promises to end “toll-mania”. James O’Doherty

The Gold Coast Bulletin

City CEO Tim Baker scraps secret tower plan for Main Beach park after backlash
Gold Coast City Council’s CEO Tim Baker has abruptly stopped talks on a potential deal with the state government to build towers at the Main Beach Tourist Park after residents threatened “World War III”.

Contentious four-tower Coomera development gets green light following split council vote
A controversial four-tower project will become the northern Gold Coast highest development, dwarfing other buildings, after being given the green light despite the local councillor saying it will ‘stick out like a sore thumb’.

Gold Coast’s future ‘undermined’ by outdated city plan, expert warns
The Gold Coast’s planning rules have become so outdated they’re blocking the very developments that could transform it into a world-class destination, an industry figure warns.

Gold Coast maps reveal where 388,000 new residents will live
High-rise units will not only be built along the coastal strip, but also some inland suburbs, under a Gold Coast council plan to house 388,000 extra residents by 2046. Read how your area will be affected.

Developer Immerse Projects lodges fresh plans for Gold Coast Haig St apartment tower after community backlash
A controversial beach tower in one of Australia’s prime tourist hotspots has undergone radical planning changes following furious public backlash to the build.

New $70m Robina office tower construction begins amid tight Gold Coast market
A major developer has started construction on a $70m Robina office tower amid warnings the Gold Coast desperately needs more commercial space to meet soaring demand.

Norwell Valley canelands super suburb moves ahead as council and state join forces
Mayor Tom Tate has written to Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie proposing a joint working group for the Norwell Valley Masterplan, marking the first concrete step toward creating the Gold Coast’s largest ever development.

‘Left in the dark’: Future of $900m Tweed Mall redevelopment in doubt as developer goes silent
The ambitious $900 million transformation of Tweed Mall into a bustling mixed-use precinct remains in limbo, leaving retailers and residents searching for answers.

Developer Azura snaps up last major site in Gold Coast Health Precinct
The last significant residential development opportunity in a prestigious Gold Coast precinct has been snapped up by a Brisbane developer planning luxury homes.

The Herald Sun

Dan Andrews, Jacinta Allan’s political preference for CFMEU let the fox into the henhouse
The staggering level of rorting across Victorian infrastructure projects is rooted in two purely political moves Dan Andrews and Jacinta Allan did for their favoured CFMEU mates.

The Illawarra Mercury

High-rise hopes for Hospital Hill development: 123 hotel rooms proposed
Developer Blaq Projects wants to take advantage of a new council policy to encourage more hotel rooms in the city. In 2024 the developer gained approval for a 20-storey building with commercial suites and 93 apartments with frontages on both Parkinson Street and Crown Street Wollongong – the site is within metres of Wollongong Hospital.

Take a look at the ‘beachfront plaza’ planned as part of Bellambi’s public housing renewal
Up to 2500 new homes will be built within the Bellambi estate under the state government’s proposed renewal of the area.

The Sydney Morning Herald

How first home buyers are getting a $79,000 windfall without help from parents
First home buyers can benefit by up to $165,000 on their purchase with the government’s expanded 5 per cent deposit scheme, latest research has found.

Australians back hit to capital gains and negative gearing to pay for tax cuts
Australians want Jim Chalmers to reduce both the capital gains tax concession and negative gearing assistance, slash government spending by hacking into foreign aid and cut personal income tax. An exclusive Resolve Political Monitor poll shows Chalmers has potentially strong political support to use his May budget to cut spending, with two-thirds of respondents backing reductions and just 8 per cent opposed.

‘Makes our city less liveable’: Residents win fight against 24/7 Barangaroo venue
A plan to boost Sydney’s 24-hour economy has hit a major obstacle, with the NSW government scaling back plans for around-the-clock trading at a new $100 million inner-city cultural venue after the proposal sparked a wave of community objections over late-night noise.

‘Belongs to the nation’: Cross-party push to stop sale of Victoria Barracks
A growing alliance of Labor MPs, Liberals, Greens and independents is opposing the sale of Paddington’s Victoria Barracks as controversy intensifies over the federal government’s sell-off of prime heritage and waterfront defence property in Sydney.

The West Australian

Ten apartments (plus a cafe) on just 478sqm in Mt Hawthorn is a sign of the times
A single home on 478sqm could be bulldozed to make way for 10 apartments and a cafe under new plans — highlighting the reality of modern-day developments.

Major new residential builder set for Perth following joint venture between Simonds Homes and Atlas Group
One of Australia’s biggest residential builders is entering the WA market after striking up a joint venture with construction stalwart Julian Ambrose – stepson of late magnate Len Buckeridge. The new venture between Mr Ambrose’s commercial construction company Atlas Group and the ASX-listed Simonds Homes injects massive building capacity into WA’s long-suffering residential sector.

Government under pressure from WA Liberals to ease stamp duty pain in May budget
There are growing calls for an easing of stamp duty taxes in the May Budget, with the belief it could encourage people to sell their homes and boost Perth’s dismal stocks of available properties.

Please watch out for rental scams
Over the past few years, unscrupulous scammers have been increasingly taking advantage of vulnerable people seeking a property in Western Australia’s tight rental market. Suzanne Brown – Sponsored

All-encompassing approach to sophisticated living
One of just five exclusive homes in a boutique building, this entire-floor apartment presents opulent living with views across Kings Park and Botanic Garden, Swan River, the Perth city skyline and Darling Range.

St George & Sutherland Shire Leader

Minns says Gymea Bowls development still possible despite members’ vote
Premier Chris Minns says the Gymea Bowls redevelopment proposal could still go ahead despite being overwhelmingly rejected by members. Members rejected the board’s motion in a vote of 410-114 at Sunday’s meeting.

Coles Caringbah opening near, with 242 new apartments soon after
The shopping centre in the new Coles Caringbah development is expected to open next month, with residents moving into the apartments above mid-year. Developer Conquest revealed this at a traditional topping-out ceremony to mark the structural completion of the $300 million Caringbah Pavilion project.