Gang warfare ruins nz house sale

Invercargill house for sale ... has some recent history...

A four-bedroom house, a "large section with potential", and an owner willing to slash the price - perhaps not a bad deal to be had - as long as you can look past the extensive fire damage from a recent gang feud, and one of the infamous gangs involved living next door.

Auckland Investment Manager Brian Garrity has a challenge on his hands trying to unload his Invercargill rental property, which neighbours the town's Mongrel Mob headquarters and which was mistakenly targeted in an arson attack during a feud between the Mob and the rival Road Knights in the town in June.

"The property has been on the market for about a week now, on Trade Me, and look I haven't had one person...call me about it, aside from journalists," Mr Garrity said. "I would like to think that everything has a price, and if that means that I have to lower the price quite substantially, then that's what has to happen."

While the rateable value is £47,000, Mr Garrity said dropping to about £18,131 was "not unrealistic".

If the Mongrel Mob was interested "I wouldn't treat them any different to any other buyer". Otherwise it would have to be "someone who's okay with those sort of neighbours".

"I would just love to get rid of the property. It's not generating any income for me."

Mr Garrity bought the house site unseen over the internet, unaware it was next to the gang, to add to the two properties he already owned in Invercargill.

"It's a lesson learned I guess."

Source: NZ Herald