POLICE are investigating a fire which began in a Breeza house that was under contract for sale and which the new owner said had sat empty for years.
The soon-to-be owner of the house, Mitchum Neave, lives next door.
The Main St, Breeza, house was destroyed by fire about 2am on
Sunday.
Mr Neave spoke to The Leader on Monday and said the fire appeared to have been started in the back room of his own house on the same evening.
Yesterday afternoon he said he was trying to establish where he stood regarding insurance.
He did not believe the fire was bad luck.
“It’s sat empty for five years, and I’ve just bought it,” he said.
The sale was to take full effect on July 25.
Mr Neave said he had purchased the neighbouring property for two reasons.
He and partner Kerren Boyd were looking to foster five children and needed more space.
Mr Neave also wished to give his mother somewhere to live, as she was planning to return to Breeza.
Tamworth detectives said on Monday the cause of the fire had not been established.
Mr Neave was in Sydney when the house burned down, and had been notified by
neighbours.
A report would be prepared for the coroner.
Mr Neave said insurance inspectors had been on site yesterday.