‘Don’t live like a pig’: Ex-Bachelor Bill Goldsmith defends pricey rent on renovated Qld home

FORMER reality TV contender Bill Goldsmith hit back after receiving an angry response when he advertised his renovated Gold Coast property to rent for $1,300 a week plus $4,000 bond.

Mr Goldsmith, who appeared in Channel 10’s The Bachelorette 2018 and Bachelor in Paradise 2019, posted the notice in an online forum for people seeking rental accommodation in the area, but it was deemed a “rip off”, while he was branded a “greedy bastard”.

Mr Goldsmith defended the rent as fair market value in a competitive housing climate.

“If you can’t afford it that’s cool, but please have some respect as it’s priced fair according to current market conditions,” Mr Goldsmith wrote on the ad.

“I have worked hard renovating this house into something beautiful.”

In response to a forum member who labelled the asking bond “outrageous”, Mr Goldsmith wrote:

“It shouldn’t matter how much [the] bond is – it will make sure you don’t live like a pig.”

SQM Research data shows typical weekly rent across all houses in Burleigh Waters was $1,182 in April.

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Burleigh Waters three-bedroom renovated home advertised to rent for $1,300 a week

The price was up 20 per cent from 12 months ago, though has come back almost 8 per cent since January 2023.

Vacancy rates in the popular suburb plunged to 0.2 per cent in November 2020, their lowest level in 15 years, and now sit at 1.3 per cent. A healthy rental vacancy rate is around 3 per cent, depending on supply and location.

One forum member said: “I volunteer for a homeless charity in Tweed and you are one of the reasons there are so many homeless.”

Another member said: “Trying to make a living out of struggling families during a rental crisis, classy. Please actually put some effort into your pricing when doing research.”

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Contemporary coastal style

When contacted for comment, Mr Goldsmith said he stood by the pricing, but has since removed the post.

“I’m not upping the rent on my house, I’m just advertising it at the market conditions.

“I just think I advertised it to the wrong demographic on Facebook, lesson learnt.”

Property records show Mr Goldsmith owns the home with Angela Smith. They purchased the 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom lowset property on a 720sq m lot for $1m in June 2021.

Mr Goldsmith, a plumber, moved from Victoria to Burleigh Heads two years ago and spent 12 months renovating the home.

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The house is also for sale with a $1.495m price tag after passing in at auction

It has been completely upgraded in contemporary coastal style, with features including stone kitchen benchtops and high-quality appliances in the kitchen, and two living areas opening onto an al fresco entertaining terrace with a saltwater pool.

Extras include zoned ducted air-conditioning, lock-up garage, and a fenced yard.

The house is also listed for sale with a $1.495m price tag with Burleigh marketing agent Danny O’Donnell.

It is located in a cul de sac within walking distance to Pizzey Park and close to shops, schools and Bond University.

Mr Goldsmith owns another Burleigh Waters investment property, a three-bedroom townhouse on Mattocks Rd which is rented for $800 a week.

Article source: Queensland Property Investor