Housewife's Apartment Law Suit

The latest addition to The Real Housewives of Melbourne, Pettifleur Berenger, is currently in a dust-up with her current builder, Stellar.

Berenger, who is the latest, and frankly controversial, 'housewife' to join the Foxtel show, is adamant that her profession is 'property development' - yet the builders of her latest East Malvern development seemingly question her competency.

The development, recently built in East Malvern, was put on hold as defects on the seven apartments were witnessed.

Stellar is owed nearly $160,000 for the work, to which Berenger just simply stopped paying. Stellar's Gary Young asserted that Berenger "had no real idea what she was doing." 

“She claims to be a successful developer but I think it was only her second job. I tried to help her. But about halfway through the job she stopped paying.”

“She was so pedantic and her expectations were unrealistic. She found defects but they were so minor. Then they just locked us out of the site,’’ she said.

“It’s been extremely stressful. It’s killed my business. I’ve had better years but at least I’m still breathing.”

Stellar are now suing Berenger for the liquidation they now find them in, however Berenger is now counter-suing due to the lateness of work and the lack of satisfaction the work delivered.

“I have nothing to be ashamed of, no skeletons in my closet,” she said. “We are suing the builder for unfinished and defective works and that builder has since gone into administration.

“I can’t say too much about it because it’s still before the courts. It is an unfortunate situation.

"The builder I normally use was unavailable so against my better judgment I used someone else and unfortunately the work was not up to my particular standards.”

“I treat my tradies well — I bring them beer and lunches, the junk food they like,” she said.

It is believed that Berenger is now taking a break from property development and is focusing on her book.