Why distraught mum lives in Melbourne ‘tent’ house

An emotional mum has hit out after claiming she was forced to live in shocking conditions in a “tent” home that was only good for “Halloween”.

A woman and her son have been left living in a “tent” home in Melbourne’s east due to unfinished work on her property.

Jill Harris hired Extension Factory in 2020 to extend and add a second storey to her Upper Ferntree Gully house, but nearly two years later she claims she has been left living in shocking conditions.

There is exposed wiring, holes and mould throughout the property, while tarps have replaced the roof overhead.

A light fixture hangs by its wires. Picture: A Current Affair

Rain falls inside the property. Picture: A Current Affair

When it rains the home is flooded by small “waterfalls that leak through the light fittings”.

Ms Harris said the only thing her unfinished home was good for was “Halloween”.

“I call this the tent. I live in the tent because there is no roof over my room or my son‘s room,” she emotionally told A Current Affair.

“I have good days where I try to be positive and I have the lowest of lows.”

Numerous issues have led to work stopping on the property.

Ms Harris said yhe first major mistake forced the builder to knock down their work and start all over again.

Jill Harris says the situation has made her feel the ‘lowest of lows’. Picture: A Current Affair

“(It) just went completely wrong from there. They built it 160mm out of square, which we didn't find out till 12 months later,” Ms Harris said.

A surveyor eventually stopped Extension Factory from working on the property after builders allegedly proceeded with work without the permission of the inspector.

The surveyor, Steve Maloney from Castle Kane, said work needed to stop because of the “owner(s) and their builders noncompliances with the building legislation”.

Ms Harris has subsequently turned her home into one giant warning against the company.

Her property is adorned with signs that read Extension Factory is “destroying our lives”, have “been paid for this crap” and “a contract with them means nothing”.

She has plastered signs across her home attacking Extension Factory. Picture: A Current Affair

Extension Factory owner Gerry Hoggard conceded there had been issues with Ms Harris’ property.

“It certainly was an error, it was built out of square, we accepted responsibility and took it down,” Mr Hoggard said.

“I know what she’s living through.

“I don’t like it (my name) being treated that way, but I can appreciate she‘s upset about what’s transpired.”

Extension Factory owner Gerry Hoggard said he understood why Jill Harris was ‘upset’. Picture: A Current Affair

Mr Hoggard claimed that at the beginning of the build Ms Harris was advised to vacate the property, but her brother Ashley, who used to work for Extension Factory and was involved at the start, said it was not going to happen.

“It’s not the sort of job that you would leave anyone occupying the premises,” Mr Hoggard said.

Ms Harris claimed no one mentioned to her that she would need to vacate the property.