A mother-of-three could be thrown behind bars if she fails to vacate and demolish her hulking mansion in Sydney’s Inner West. 

Sarah and Rabi Malass live in a sprawling home with a spa room, gym and cool room on Boden Avenue, Strathfield, with their three children.

Mr Malass, 38, had been approved in 2017 to demolish the original building and construct a two-storey house with basement car parking and a swimming pool. 

In 2020, the Strathfield Council issued a stop work order over unapproved additions. But the order was not followed, according to court documents.

The disallowed features included a spa room, playroom, gym and cool room, as well as a basement so large it totalled a third storey.

Over the next four years, the council and the Malass family engaged in legal proceedings and exchanged extensive correspondence. 

In 2024, Mrs Malass – who is listed as the homeowner – was ordered to leave the property within 10 months and demolish the unlawful works within 12 months, according to court documents.

‘In the course of the proceedings, Mrs Malass pleaded guilty to contempt of court orders restricting building works on the property on two occasions and her contempts of court orders were found to be wilful,’ a decision noted. 

A family has been ordered to move out of and demolish their hulking mansion in Strathfield

Boden Avenue is a quiet, residential street lined with a mix of red brick terraces and modern homes complete with heavy security (pictured)

When the Daily Mail visited the property, Rabi Malass said his family would not comment until after the hearing but claimed they were not living at the property

‘Mrs Malass and her family currently reside in a largely completed unlawful dwelling which impacts the neighbours and the neighbourhood due to its bulk and scale.

‘No occupation certificate has been issued.’

Mrs Malass requested an extension last year, which was rejected by Judge Nicola Pain in the Land and Environment Court in July 2025. 

The court was told Mrs Malass had requested the extension due to her and her husband’s ‘poor financial circumstances’ and because she was unemployed.   

Mrs Malass told the court that tearing down and rebuilding the home would cost her $10million, but Judge Pain said this was not supported by any documentation. 

But Judge Pain noted: ‘There is very little documentation to support the general statements made about her poor financial situation.’

She said Mrs Malass did not provide a ‘complete picture’ of her financial position or her husband’s to the court, whom she said was bankrupt. 

The court heard Mrs Malass is the sole director and shareholder of SKJM Consortium, which borrowed money for the property, according to a loan document.

The dispute on Boden Avenue began when the home was built beyond the council-approved development application

Pictured, the sprawling property has an outdoor dining area and swimming pool

‘That company purchased a property in Berrima for $6.8million in 2023. There is no registered mortgage on the title of that property,’ Judge Pain said, noting Mrs Malass was meeting her weekly mortgage repayments of $43,312.

‘The same company owns two other properties according to the business records in evidence.’ 

Mrs Malass said the Berrima purchase involved borrowings she had no knowledge of, as her husband handled such matters.

No details were provided in her evidence. 

The judge said she had incomplete information about Mrs Malass’s ‘true financial position’ which weighed against her application for an extension.

‘Further, I do not consider the presence of Mr Malass and the children in the house on the property amounts to possession of the property,’ Judge Pain said. 

‘While I appreciate that from the children’s perspective in particular the situation is extremely unfortunate if they have to move, the circumstances resulting in the orders being made were entirely of Mrs Malass’ making.’

The judge said her financial situation was ‘largely no different’ in 2025 from when the stop work orders were made, including her husband’s bankruptcy.

‘If Mrs Malass were permitted to continue to enjoy the benefit of the unauthorised works, noting that she has been for over four years already, that would effectively and substantially diminish the relevance of the planning regime,’ Judge Pain said. 

Pictured is an aerial view of the property, which boasts a large basement garage

‘Mrs Malass admits [in 2025] in her first affidavit she, and her family, are residing at the property despite the order to vacate. Mrs Malass is, until the orders are complied with, enjoying an illegitimate private benefit at the expense of the public. 

‘To extend the time for compliance only serves to enlarge that benefit, and continue the substantial adverse impacts.’

Judge Pain ruled that there would be no extension granted to Mrs Malass.

This week, the legal battle returned to the Land and Environment Court before Judge Pain, as reported by The Sydney Morning Herald.

Strathfield Council is seeking that Mrs Malass be convicted of contempt charges, fined, removed from the Inner West property, and jailed if she fails to demolish the home within 28 days.  

The council’s barrister, Geoff Farland, told the court on Thursday there had been ‘clear admissions by the respondent of her guilt’. 

‘It genuinely took the council by surprise that there would be a plea of not guilty or that there would be no evidence put on,’ he said.

Mrs Malass’s barrister, Patrick Larkin SC, said the council should not be allowed to introduce new evidence, which includes a photo of the home still standing. 

The Daily Mail observed unidentified people driving into the underground car park

‘They told us in black and white that the evidence was complete. We made decisions on that basis,’ Larkin told the court.

The case continued on Friday. The Daily Mail has contacted both Mr Farland, Mr Larkin and the Strathfield Council for comment.

Boden Avenue is a quiet, residential street lined with a mix of red brick terraces and modern homes complete with heavy security. 

When the Daily Mail visited the Malass’ home, several people entered the property, including a black Range Rover through the underground garage.

We spoke to Rabi Malass via intercom. He said the family would not comment until after the hearing but claimed they were not living at the property.

Some residents claimed they had seen the Malass family on the street ‘recently’.

One of the Malass’s neighbours bought a home on the street in 2024 for $9.5million, and a parcel of land opposite the Malass house sold last year for $4.9million.

The Malass three-storey house has been criticised by residents after it was built beyond its approved specifications.

Boden Avenue resident Mahesh Mapa (pictured) described the property as a ‘monstrosity’

Mahesh Mapa, 45, has lived on the street for over 30 years and described the property as a ‘monstrosity’.

‘It’s ugly. Too big, too wide, too everything,’ he told the Daily Mail. 

He was not aware that Mrs Malass had been taken to the NSW Land and Environment Court, but said the council ‘should go for it’. 

When the Daily Mail visited the street, some residents said they were too afraid to speak until after the legal case had been settled. 

They said they supported the council’s case, with some personally objecting to the build through the appropriate channels.

One resident who has lived on the street for 29 years, seemed unfazed by the home. 

‘It hasn’t bothered me in any way. There are quite a few houses that are big around here,’ she said.