Murray Bridge man Simon Wilden living in unfinished home after JAC Homes goes into liquidation

A South Aussie building company that went into liquidation has left customers with incomplete houses fuming and unsure what the next step to completing their dream homes will be.

JAC homes has gone into liquidation.

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A Murray Bridge couple who moved into their incomplete house built by JAC Homes four months ago have been left high and dry after the company went into liquidation last week.

Simon Wilden and his wife have been forced to park their cars on the street because their driveway is incomplete along with fences and paths.

A rainwater tank was also not plumbed before JAC Homes went into liquidation.

Mr Wilden told The Advertiser he signed a contract with JAC Homes for a turnkey home on a piece of land he bought in 2023, with an estimated move-in month of May 2024.

He said the builder kept pushing back the move-in date because of “supply issues”, forcing he and his wife to take leave and cancel removalists as they waited to move into their new home.

“We chased the site supervisor for weeks at a time, leaving messages and texts and trying to find out what the delays were, and when the moving day would actually be,” Mr Wilden said.

“We’d never get anything in formal writing for a moving day, it was always given to us verbally over the phone.

“We never got any formal letters of delay as per the contract.”

JAC Homes eventually told him the site supervisor no longer worked for the company.

In a statement on their website, JAC Homes said it was with “deep regret” they were closing and the decision was “not made lightly”.

“After many years of proudly serving our clients and building homes with dedication and care, we have made the difficult decision to cease operations,” JAC Homes owner Jodie Austin said in the statement.

“Ongoing challenges and circumstances have significantly impacted our ability to continue operating, and the resulting stress has affected both the business and my personal wellbeing.”

The driveway at this Melaleuca Way home was not completed by JAC Homes, leaving the homeowner unable to use his own garage. Picture: Supplied

In October of last year, Mr Wilden and his wife moved into their home because they couldn’t “put it off any longer”.

He said after they moved in JAC Homes continued to tell them the work would be completed.

“Every week we were promised driveways, paths and fences and the rainwater tank would be plumbed, and none of it’s been done,” Mr Wilden said.

He said the driveway was dug out but the concrete was never poured, leaving his garage inaccessible and his cars having to be parked on the street.

Mr Wilden said he continued to receive excuses from JAC Homes as to why the work hadn’t been completed up until they went into liquidation, and was receiving weekly invoices for the final payment on the house, even though work had not been done.

The rainwater tank was delivered, but not installed, and lacks a connection point to allow its use. Picture: Supplied

“In December, I got a text saying the work isn’t going to be done because we’re withholding money.”

“That’s when I lost it.”

It comes after first homeowner Ahmed Tayba told The Advertiser he and his partner Kelly were handed the keys to their incomplete home built by JAC Homes last year.

But the 32-year-old said the four-bedroom home was riddled with defects, with the repair bill likely to exceed more than $50,000.

“It’s a nightmare, it makes you not want to do it again,” Mr Tayba said.

“It just kills the whole experience.

“It’s condescending, it’s been a hell of an experience.”