On just a 25 sqm block, antique restorer Sayman Ibraham’s “labour of love” behind a famous brothel is believed to be Sydney’s smallest house.
But it’s just achieved a record-breaking price.
Sold via BresicWhitney’s Brigitte Blackman and Darren Pearce, the one-bedroom terrace at 21 Little Riley St, Surry Hills fetched a whopping $1.5m — $300,000 above the price guide for the planned February 25 auction.
The stunning result sets a Surry Hills record for a one bedroom house with no parking on such a small block and equates to $60,000 per sqm.
Is this Sydney’s smallest home?
21 Little Riley St, Surry Hills sits directly behind one of Sydney’s best known brothels, A Touch of Class.
The renovation was a labour of love for the vendor, antique restorer Sayman Ibraham.
“Sayman’s over the moon,” Blackman says. “We had 75 groups through and got an unbelievable result — 25sqm is tiny.
“There were no comparables at all so it was a difficult one to put a price on, but there is absolutely no stock on the market.”
Its location behind one of Sydney’s most well known brothels, A Touch of Class, proved no obstacle to the sale.
The investor buyer can expect a decent rental income of between $750 to $800 per week, Blackman estimates.
There’s just one bedroom.
But a very stylish bathroom.
“It would also make an unbelievable Airbnb,” she says.
The tiny house had rising damp and was very basic when Ibraham bought it for $710,000 in 2013, but he threw his heart and soul and plenty of dollars into a renovation.
Now the interiors are far from plain: a mixture of industrial and modern with just a hint of an antique look — stone walls, solid brass trimmings, and black granite benchtops.
There’s a clever use of the compact space and it’s full of natural light.
Ibrahim built the stairs himself.
There’s plenty of fresh air and natural light.
Ibrahim is particularly proud of the steel floating stairs, which he built himself.
Having created his incredible space, prior to the sale, Ibrahim said he was a little sad to be moving on.
“But I’m also a bit excited,” he said.
No wonder — he’s off to the south of France, planning to buy and restore a chateau.
Source: real estate