Bruce Lehrmann’s landlord hands him huge bill after he partied hard before judge branded him a rapist

Bruce Lehrmann’s former landlord is trying to lump him with an enormous bill over the ‘extensive damage’ he allegedly caused to her multimillion-dollar Sydney property, claiming she was unable to re-lease it when he left.

Lehrmann, 28, moved out of the luxury three-bedroom home in Balgowlah, in Sydney’s northern beaches, in early April when his deal with Channel Seven for a years’ worth of accommodation for $2000 per week came to an end.

He then moved into another mansion with a friend in North Sydney, but that was short-lived when furious neighbours complained of wild parties, ‘shrieking’ girls, and Tina Turner karaoke.

In May, the Balgowlah property owner Lady Gaenor Meakes launched a case in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT) against Lehrmann for damage and financial loss because he left three weeks before the lease ended.

Lehrmann’s name was on the tenancy agreement, but his bills were covered by Channel Seven’s finance department.

He didn’t show up to a conciliation session scheduled at the tribunal in Sydney on Thursday, organised to help resolve the dispute, because Lady Meakes hadn’t been able to find him to serve him with the documents.

Lady Meakes told the tribunal she wasn’t able to rent the home after Lehrmann left due to the ‘cleaning that had to be done’, but Daily Mail Australia can reveal the property was relisted on rental sites on Tuesday for $2250 per week.

Lady Gaenor Meakes launched a case in the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal earlier in May

Pictured: The luxury Balgowlah property, worth an estimated $4million, is up for rent for $2250 per week

The price has almost doubled since the rental was first advertised in May 2023 for $1300. It understood Channel Seven paid an increased rate of $2000 per week to cover Lehrmann’s utilities.

According to the new rental listing, ‘no expense has been spared’.

‘The property enjoys a perfect aspect and stunning views to Manly,’ it reads.

‘Designed over three levels, with an emphasis on space, there are two master bedrooms (both with ensuite bathrooms) and one also incorporates a wellness space for yoga, an infrared sauna and a designated home study/office area.

‘Entertaining is made easy with a chef’s kitchen and an open plan living /dining room, all designed to soak in the expansive views.’

Lady Meakes is married to champion sailor Mark Richards, skipper of Wild Oats XI which is a nine-times line honours winner of the Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht race – sponsored by Channel Seven.

Mr Richards transferred the property to his wife after they bought it for $2.4million in 2019. The property is now worth an estimated $4million.

Pictured: The master bedroom at Lady Meakes’ Balgowlah property

The property (pictured) has three bedrooms, three bathrooms, and parking for two cars

The home (pictured) has water views, two balconies and a private courtyard

During the hearing on Thursday, Lady Meakes told the tribunal she tried sending the NCAT documents to Lehrmann’s defamation lawyers Mark O’Brien Legal in Sydney, but the package was returned to sender, The Australian reported.

Lehrmann is understood to have fled NSW after he lost his defamation case in the Federal Court against Lisa Wilkinson and Network Ten in April, and has no fixed address.

Lady Meakes was granted permission to serve Lehrmann with the documents via email.

Asked how long she would need to send him the paperwork, Lady Meakes told the tribunal: ‘I have quite a lot of documents.’

When contacted for comment on Friday, Lehrmann referenced the national housing crisis and accused Lady Meakes of ‘kicking a dog while it’s down’.

‘I can certainly sympathise with all those who have been dealing with entitled landlords in this cost of living crisis,’ he told Daily Mail Australia.

Bruce Lehrmann is pictured on an episode of Channel Seven’s Spotlight program

‘Otherwise I’m not going to play this out in the media as they seem to want to do. 

‘Talk about kicking a dog while it’s down.’

Lehrmann is already up for millions of dollars in legal fees after his spectacular defamation loss on April 15.

He had sued over an interview Wilkinson did with Brittany Higgins on The Project on 2021, during which she claimed Lehrmann had raped her in Parliament House in 2019.

Lehrmann, who had denied the assault, wasn’t named in the broadcast but he claimed friends and colleagues were able to identify him as Ms Higgins’ rapist.

However, Justice Michael Lee found on a balance of probabilities that Lehrmann had raped Ms Higgins in the way she described in her interview.

He now faces bankruptcy to cover the legal bills for the winning parties, which is expected to amount to more than $2million.

Lehrmann has until May 31 to appeal Justice Lee’s decision.