Shark Tank builder forced to tear down part of his $4million dream home after bitter feud with council and blindsiding his neighbours: 'He's disobeyed all the rules'

Published: 09:29, 15 August 2026 | Updated: 09:32, 15 August 2026 A Sydney builder who made a name for himself on Channel Ten's Shark Tank has landed himself in hot water over the very same problem he promised investors he could help others avoid. Christopher Ghaleb, who failed to convince the 'Sharks' in 2018 to invest in his idea to allow people to walk through a life-size version of their home before it was built, is now partially demolishing his $4million dream home after a bitter feud with his local council in Sydney's inner-west. Mr Ghaleb's decision to buy the Strathfield property in 2024 has become a costly one, after facing off against the council in court and becoming embroiled in his own criminal proceedings in October. The four-bed Llandilo Avenue property, which is situated in the heart of Strathfield's 'Golden Mile' of heritage-listed homes, was sold to Mr Ghaleb and his wife Cindy as a 'well-maintained double brick family home.' However, the entrepreneur soon blindsided neighbours, demolishing the home before beginning works on a Mediterranean-inspired two-storey house complete with a basement driveway, inground swimming pool and luxury cabana, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Mr Ghaleb was issued a stop-work order in mid 2025 by Strathfield Council, who argued in court that the dwelling had an unapproved third storey. The council also argued the plans had failed to meet the gross floor area and minimum setbacks allowable under a Complying Development Certificate (CDC). But after months of back-and-forth, the NSW Land and Environment Court found in February that Mr Ghaleb, 36, could continue the works after he agreed to a series of demolition works and amendments during a mediation hearing with the council. Christopher Ghaleb (pictured on Shark Tank's 2018 season) is now partially demolishing his $4million dream home after a bitter feud with his local council The development of the Llandilo Avenue property has become a costly exercise for Mr Ghaleb who has reportedly spent nearly $500,000 rebuilding it He purchased the 'well-maintained double brick' property in 2024 (pictured) and soon began demolition work to build a Mediterranean-inspired home in its place Among the changes listed in the judgement, Mr Ghaleb will demolish walls to increase setbacks, delete the arch columns from the entryway, and introduce additional landscaping and privacy treatments on the windows. He must also change his materials and finishes to complement the street's heritage.  A neighbour who requested to remain anonymous told the Daily Mail Mr Ghaleb had been working flat out over the last two weeks to finish the build, after a Building Information Certificate (BIC) was lodged in June. A BIC protects unauthorised works from demolition for seven years.  'He just wants to get it done,' the neighbour said.  'He doesn't listen to anybody, anyway. 'In the past, he's worked until midnight on some nights just to get it done. All you hear is bang, bang, bang... he's disobeyed all the rules.'  The neighbour said Mr Ghaleb's desire to push through the development has earned him no friends on the street, with many arguing his design doesn't sit within the local heritage fabric. 'It has affected our privacy immensely. The pool he's built is almost in the other neighbour's property,' they said. An artist's impression of the home prior to the court verdict. Mr Ghaleb must now delete the arch columns from the entryway and change the finishes to complement the street's heritage Mr Ghaleb agreed to introduce additional landscaping and privacy treatments on the windows The neighbour also claimed his fence panels were broken during the construction period and reported this to Mr Ghaleb, who has offered to fix them once the build is complete. Another neighbour said her property had already been damaged by Mr Ghaleb's building works, prior to council approving his development application.  'The nature of the construction seemed to be unregulated and careless, and done without proper due diligence and consideration,' she wrote in a public submission to council in 2025. 'Debris (has) fallen into our property and pool, damage to several of the boundary fences on our land, paint splatter on the side of the property, and (there's been) tree pruning without notice or our consent.' It comes after it was revealed Mr Ghaleb now faces a criminal charge after he allegedly stalked and intimidated a senior council officer, who the Daily Mail is choosing not to name. Police also reportedly applied for an apprehended violence order (AVO) against Mr Ghaleb to protect the man. He is due to face Burwood Local Court on October 30. The Daily Mail has contacted Mr Ghaleb for comment.  A neighbour told the Daily Mail Mr Ghaleb's teams have been working flat out over the last two weeks to finish the build He has previously defended his actions, telling the Sydney Morning Herald the development dispute was over after he agreed to 'minor' changes during a conciliation conference before the NSW Land and Environment Court in February. 'I think a couple of heritage houses next door, they didn't want it, so they brought a fight to me,' he said. 'We agreed to lose less than 3 per cent of the floor area.' A spokesperson for Strathfield Council told the Daily Mail the issue has not been fully resolved. 'Council confirms that the Class 1 proceedings brought by Mr Ghaleb have been determined by the Land and Environment Court, the Class 4 proceedings brought by Council currently remain on foot,' the spokesperson said.