A couple bought their dream home and lived there for five years before finding out they didn't actually own the property. Jess and Jackie Morecroft splashed out 1.2million Australian dollars for their cracking pad in March 2018.
The couple, who spent the equivalent of £630,000 at auction for the top house, settled in to life on Australia's Gold Coast over five years ago only to now be told they do not rightfully own the property, reports the Mirror.
The devastating and shocking revelation comes as the Queensland Supreme Court ruled that the house in the area of Mermaid Beach, which is now worth an estimated $2.7million, is actually owned by the previous occupant.
Hind Issa, 83, still owns the house as it was never fully transferred to Jess and Jackie's names after they bought it. Official court documents showed that the Registrar of Titles had placed a caveat on the home.
Ms Issa, the previous owner, had contacted Australia's version of the Land Registry to say her home had been "fraudulently mortgaged by criminals" and that the signature for her on documents had been forged.
The two opposing sides have been locked in a legal battle since the shocking discovery, with Ms Issa, who was represented in court proceedings by her daughter due to her Alzheimer's condition, found to be the rightful owner.
The couple were also found not to have legal interest in the home. Mr Morecroft told ABC: "There is an endpoint here for us, which would totally ruin us…it feels very desperate at this point."
His wife was said to be "living in fear" from the stress caused by the complicated legalities of the ordeal and the prospect of losing their home after five years. She said: "We're just normal people who have bought a house."
The couple's lawyer argued during a trial that Ms Issa's removal of the caveat on the property showed she no longer had an interest in the house.
Justice Crowley, overseeing the case, said the woman who removed said caveat in exchange for $40,000, the equivalent of £21,000, had done so "on the express basis that she reserved all her rights".
On Friday, the government of Queensland was ordered to compensate the Morecrofts after they incurred $300,000 (£160,000) in legal fees. Mr Morecroft admitted it was a 'huge relief' but hoped that the state will accept and pay the money despite having the right to an appeal.
Reports suggest the matter will be returned to the court next month.
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