Viral ‘kitchen toilet’ apartment seized in messy debt dispute

You might remember the viral apartment that had the internet in a spin – the one with the, ahem, conveniently located toilet right in the kitchen.

Well, buckle up, because the saga has taken a decidedly unglamorous turn.

The property, a multimillion-dollar building in North Adelaide, has been seized by receivers amid a debt dispute involving its owner, accountant Nicholas Birdseye.

Birdseye, who’s no stranger to tangling with the taxman, has owned the building for close to 20 years.

But ASIC records now show that his company, Sinbird Nominees, is in the hands of receivers, engaged by commercial lender Maxiron Capital out of Sydney.

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The home’s bathroom sits encased within … the kitchen? At least it’s partially frosted for privacy! Picture: realestate.com.au

A look inside the glass box bathroom. Picture: realestate.com.au

While Birdseye runs his accounting firm from the ground floor, it’s the upstairs studio that really captured the imagination (and perhaps a few stomachs) back in 2022.

When listed for rent on realestate.com.au at $400-$420 per week, the apartment boasted a “spacious, fully furnished” layout.

But the real talking point was the “bathroom” – a glass box, frosted for a modicum of privacy, plonked right next to the kitchen.

“Bleak” and reminiscent of “your first custom house in The Sims” were just some of the online reactions to the, shall we say, unconventional design.

Nicholas Birdseye is involved in a debt dispute.

But the toilet-in-the-kitchen is just one chapter in this property’s bizarre history.

Birdseye himself has a colourful past, including a $1000 fine last year for failing to provide documents to the ATO.

He was also struck off as a registered tax agent in 2020 following an investigation, and has a previous community service order for failing to pay payroll tax.

Real estate agent Rachel Lawrie, who listed the property for rent in 2022, defended the apartment as a practical solution for renters struggling to find accommodation.

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The home appears normal from the outside. Picture: realestate.com.au

Even the bedroom fails to raise any eyebrows. Picture: realestate.com.au

“This is a fantastic interim property that will help people who need a rental record,” she said at the time.

But now, the property’s future is uncertain.

With receivers in control, will the next owner embrace the quirky kitchen-loo combo? Or will they finally consign it to the history books?

One thing’s for sure: this Adelaide property has proven that when it comes to real estate, sometimes the most memorable features are the ones you least expect – or perhaps, least want – to find.

The post Viral ‘kitchen toilet’ apartment seized in messy debt dispute appeared first on realestate.com.au.