– Stefan Huy and Bruni Gebauer-Huy are selling their Christchurch home after a dispute with the council.
– The couple wanted to buy a neighbouring plot for driveway access but couldn’t due to foreign buyer restrictions.
– The council is auctioning the land, preventing the couple from future-proofing their home, leading to their sale decision.
Husband and wife travel writers Stefan Huy and Bruni Gebauer-Huy are selling their beloved Christchurch home after failing to solve a long-running dispute with the council.
The German journalists have spent more than a decade negotiating with city officials to buy a vacant plot next door to their house at 54 Clifton Terrace in Clifton.
The couple had wanted to build a driveway through the land to their house, which is currently only accessible via a staircase.
The property, which can only be accessed by stairs, is perched on a hillside overlooking the sea. Photo / Supplied
However, the council, which owns the 1140sqm section overlooking the sea, has decided to list the property for sale by auction, with Bayleys agents Marilyn Still and David Archibald.
Stefan told OneRoof that they could not make any unconditional bids for the land because they are not citizens and do not live in New Zealand full-time.
Under the current foreign ban, which came into effect after the couple bought their two-bedroom Clifton home, any property purchases they make would require approval from the overseas investment office.
Discover more:
– Green light for rich foreigners to buy NZ homes once again
– Auckland do-up left to complete stranger sells for over $1.3m
– Green goddess Wendyl Nissen sells her $1m Hokianga escape
Stefan said the auction had killed off their dreams of future-proofing their home for when they get older, so they too have decided to sell, albeit reluctantly.
“It is certainly one of the most beautiful properties in Christchurch,” Stefan told OneRoof from Germany, where the couple are currently on assignment for a travel and motor magazine.
Their listing agent, Rod Cross, from New Zealand Sotheby’s International Realty, added: “It has views right out over Sumner and Pegasus Bay. It looks to the north, and you can see the Kaikouras on a clear day.”
The 1140sqm land for sale at 1 Kinsey Terrace. In the background is Stefan and Bruni’s house. Photo / Supplied
The property has an RV of $810,000 and Cross felt there was scope to add value. “It’s an opportunity for somebody to roll up their sleeves and prepare the property to its former glory, if you like. Do some renovations or build your own dream.”
Stefan said the couple had tried everything to get a deal over the line with the council.
“We made offers that were well above market value (based on an independent valuation) and were willing to give the drive access as a RoW free of charge to a successful buyer of 1 Kinsey Terrace,” he said.
“Now we are at the end of our tether. What the earthquake failed to do, the council has now achieved: we have to leave our home after 36 years.”
Last month, the councillors discussed selling 1 Kinsey Terrace to the couple but noted their responsibilities under the Local Government Act to get the best price for ratepayers. The property is now going to auction on September 3 with an RV of $37,000.
Stefan told OneRoof that the foreign buyer ban had hit the couple hard. “We are travel writers and have specialised in New Zealand and the South Pacific for almost 40 years. We spend four to five months in New Zealand every year, but we also have to take on assignments in Europe to make a living in our profession.
“However, we are rarely in New Zealand for more than [the requisite] 183 days. Participating in the auction is problematic and impossible within the council’s current timeframe. After the decision, the council couldn’t sell 1 Kinsey fast enough.
“I don’t need to tell you how sad and disappointed we are about this, but we will continue to update our various NZ travel guide books and write reports about New Zealand for overseas markets, and we still have our caravan… But of course, our enthusiasm has taken a blow.”
Bruce Rendall, head of the city council’s facilities and property, told OneRoof: “The council considered a range of sale methods, including deadline sale. An auction was selected as it provides a transparent process that allows all interested parties to compete on equal terms. To further ensure that all parties can compete, a standard marketing period was used, and the council will not consider bringing forward the auction date.”
– 54 Clifton Terrace, Sumner, Christchurch, goes to auction on September 17