The Victorian land lease community operator provided a trading update for the quarter ended 30 September on Wednesday, 8 October.
It said 54 new homes had been settled in the quarter, which puts it on track to exceed FY25's total net sales of 139 for the year. Lifestyle Communities' sales were 375 in FY24 before the organisation was pilloried on the ABC's 7.30 program in July 2024. After the program aired, resident Geoff Gauci successfully took the business to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal. A judgment has been stayed by Lifestyle Communities, who have lodged an appeal.
Adding to the operator's woes was the soft residential property market in Victoria, which is beginning to recover. The Real Estate Institute of Victoria’s September 2025 quarter results, released on 7 October, show median house prices climbed 2.7% in metropolitan Melbourne and 2.5% in regional Victoria, while unit prices increased 2.1% and 1.4% respectively.
At 30 September, Lifestyle Communities had 216 homes for sale, down 16% from 257 on 30 June 2025.
In addition, there were 13 unsold homes under construction, compared to 12 six months earlier. Lifestyle Communities has 237 contracts on hand, with only 52 customers booked to settle prior to 30 June 2026 with unconditional contracts on their current homes. 53 are marketing their homes for sale.
Chief Executive Officer Henry Ruiz called it a "pleasing sales performance in Q1 of FY26".
He added the launch of its Live Your Way brand advertising was "a landmark moment" as it marked a "refreshed strategy".
Lifestyle Communities managed to get its net debt down to $347.7 million as of 6 October, down from $460.5 million on 30 June 2025. The reduction has been through the sale of land and $19 million working capital release.
