SA builder Felmeri Homes under fire after customers complain of issues with brand new homes

An SA home builder is under investigation by the government regulator after complaints of big delays and inferior workmanship. But the company says industry conditions are to blame.

Adelaide home builder Felmeri Homes has come under fire from disgruntled homeowners but it says it’s not to blame. Picture: Generic/File

An Adelaide home builder has come under fire from disgruntled homeowners who say they’ve been left in the lurch after lengthy delays and issues with inferior workmanship.

Customers of builder Felmeri Homes have complained of issues with their brand new homes and have said they face prolonged delays in construction.

But the builder blames delays on labour and material shortages.

A manager at Felmeri Homes, based at Wayville, told the Advertiser the issues have come about due to high prices of labour and materials.

“There has been delays, we’re not going to hide from that,” the manager, who wished to remain unnamed, said.

“The price of materials and labour is ultimately the downfall in all of this.”

One Mansfield Park homeowners’ dream turned into a nightmare situation as it flooded soon after they moved in to a home built by Felmeri.

“We own a home but I’m unable to live in it,” homeowner Damien Oates told 7NEWS.

“It’s pretty stressful and pretty gut-wrenching.”

He has fans running day and night to dry out the flooded home.

The homeowners called a plumbing inspector, who determined that a blocked drain caused sewage to flow into the house due to a non-compliant fitting.

Other owners on the same street, Angus Lane, have also reported issues and some have incomplete homes more than two-and-a-half years after signing contracts.

“We’ll ring them and they’ll say the person I need to speak to is on another call and they’ll call me back,” the partner of a Felmeri customer, John Doig, told 7NEWS.

“They never do.”

Homeowners in Plympton, Hackham and O’Halloran Hill have also been subject to the delays and workmanship issues.

“I regret deciding to build with Felmeri,” customer James Lattin said to 7NEWS.

“It’s been nothing but a headache and leading to depression.”

The manager said directors at the company had sold personal assets to help with costs.

“One of the directors had personal cars he sold.”

The manager claimed the company “never increased a contract price” with clients despite the rising costs and have been in contact with affected homeowners.

“We’ve been in contact with every client along the way,” he said.

“They know they’re in a fixed price contract and they’re happy to wait and it’s got to the point where they’re not willing to wait anymore.”

The manager said the issue with the flooded house was a “comedy of errors” by both parties.

“The gully outside was 30mm too high which means it’s not compliant,” he said.

“It was picked up in the building report very close to the end and it was listed to be rectified.”

But he said the customer asked him to “give me the keys” early.

The manager then claimed the client, who “understood there was a blocked drain” had a shower.

He also said “vandalism” played a part in the flooding of the property.

“There was a tile pushed down the drain.”

The manager said he “feels personally bad” for the clients.

Complaints about the company have been made to the Government’s Consumer and Business Services who have issued a statement.

“Both Consumer and Business Services and the Government have received complaints about this organisation and Consumer and Business Services is now investigating,” a statement to 7NEWS read.

“The allegations made are serious and the Government is working with Felmeri’s insurer, QBE Insurance Australia Limited Pty Ltd, to ensure Building Indemnity Insurance is in place for works that have already begun.”

The manager said following a government investigation, “the Felmeri Group are to take on no new work for 180 days”.

According to the manager, the company has 43 outstanding client contracts.

Originally published as SA builder Felmeri Homes under fire after customers complain of issues with brand new homes