Disgraced podiatrist offloads his Woollahra home for $8.425 million

A residential property in Woollahra has changed hands for $8,425,000, as settlement documentation finalised in July 2026 reveals. The home, which spans a 525-square-metre block, was acquired by Claire Ratti, an individual identified as a director of a UK-based residents’ property management firm. Following the completion of the sale, the residence has been placed on the rental market with an asking price of $1250 per week through BresicWhitney East.

The vendor, Dr. Paul Bours, is a retired podiatrist whose career was impacted by disciplinary proceedings initiated by the Health Care Complaints Commission. In October 2014, Bours was found guilty of serious professional misconduct by the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Reports indicate that the commission determined his clinical actions resulted in permanent, lifelong injuries for four patients. According to documented findings, the implementation of his professional suspension was not immediate, a delay that permitted the practitioner to conduct one final procedure. This intervention reportedly left a patient with permanent disability and disparate foot sizes.

Property records show the Bours family purchased the Woollahra house in 2020 for $4.8 million, with the title held in the name of Helen Bours. The transaction settled after a private treaty sale on April 11. While Alexander Phillips and Gavin Lewis of PPD Real Estate managed the listing, both agents declined to comment on the transaction. The property features dual street frontages, tiled floors, a white kitchen, and existing DA-approved plans for a new build designed by Ergo Architecture. This sale follows previous divestments by the family, including the disposal of a Bronte residence for $4.29 million in 2015 and a separate Woollahra property for $6,375,000 in 2019.

The movement of this asset occurs amid a broader adjustment in the prestige property market. Industry observers suggest that high-end vendors are increasingly adopting specific strategies to secure sales. Deborah West, founder of SydneySlice buyer’s agents, noted a change in market sentiment.

"At the top end of the market there has been a shift in buyer behaviour, with buyers being more selective and price-sensitive, as opposed to the demand not being there,"

Matt Spooner of Buyers Market observed that the appointment of joint agents for high-value listings has become a common tactic to reach a broader demographic and leverage varied professional skill sets.

Other luxury assets in the region are currently undergoing similar campaigns. The South Coogee mansion owned by dentist Lewis Ehrlich remains on the market with a price guide of $15 million. Ehrlich, who performs roles as a health coach and honorary dentist for various national football teams, has expanded his agent representation, bringing in Ben Collier of The Agency to work alongside James Ball and Edward Quince of Sydney Sotheby’s International Realty. That property, which includes a cinema, wine cellar, and wellness zone, is scheduled for auction in August. Additionally, a luxury retreat in Newrybar in the Byron Bay hinterland is currently listed with a guide between $12.5 million and $13.5 million.

International luxury markets are seeing similar divestment activity involving high-profile figures. In the United States, developer Bill Hutchinson has continued to adjust his portfolio following a series of legal challenges. In April 2026, his firm, Dunhill Partners, sold The Shops at Mockingbird in Dallas to Crow Holdings Capital. While the specific sale price was not disclosed, the retail centre was last valued at $25.5 million for tax purposes. Hutchinson, who previously pleaded guilty to misdemeanor sexual battery in California, remains involved in ongoing civil litigation. His divestment in Texas follows a pattern of portfolio reshuffling that has included the sale of properties in the Miami and Design District areas.