Dodgy builder confronted at nightmare home as owner faces $300,000 loss

An Aussie homeowner has gone through hell after realising the house build she commissioned for her disabled mother had to be demolished.

An Aussie homeowner has gone through hell after realising the home build she commissioned for her disabled mother was riddled with substandard materials, leading to a tense stand-off with the builder.

The woman had invested her life savings of over $250,000 into what she thought would be a relaxing place for her mother to spend the rest of her life in.

But her dream to fulfil her mother’s wish of never moving to a nursing home has turned into a nightmare due to the actions of a builder who has left her in financial ruin and with a structure that may require complete reconstruction.

Speaking to news.com.au, the homeowner, who has chosen to remain anonymous, said she had initially made contact with the builder through a Facebook group for people involved with SDA housing.

“I met (him) in the group and we started talking. He gave the impression that he was very skilled and professional. That it would be a walk in the park,” she said.

“It’s a standard house, just wider doorways and accessible showers, there were never any red flags.”

But it all began to turn south when there was a delay with the project. She then called on Site Inspections host Zeher Khalil to review the property on October 21, but nothing could prepare her for the drama that would unfold.

An Aussie homeowner has gone through hell after realising the house build she commissioned for her disabled mother had to be demolished. Picture: Site Inspections/YouTube

Upon arrival, Mr Khalil said the builder attempted to board up the house, cutting timber in an apparent bid to lock out the inspectors and the police were eventually called to intervene.

“The builder had no problem with 3rd party inspector, but when he found out it was me, he said ‘no sorry’,” Mr Khalil told news.com.au

“It’s a red flag that something’s going on. You shouldn’t show that much resistance.

“He cut timber to barricade the place. I couldn’t believe it.

“When we got there, I thought ‘this is worse than I thought.

“All bathrooms have to get demolished. It will probably come to $300,000.”

News.com.au has contacted the builder for comment but had not received a response at the time of publishing.

Police were called to the scene. Picture: Site Inspections/YouTube

Mr Khalil described its “worst construction quality” he’d seen, with dangerously unsafe shortcuts, including glass “secured” by nothing more than silicone, a method that falls short of industry standards.

Site Inspections’ report described it “shocking case of negligence”, with vast areas needing to be stripped back to the framework.

The bathrooms presented even more alarming issues. Among the violations were improperly installed waterproofing, inadequate fixtures, and tiles likely requiring complete removal and reinstallation.

For the homeowner, who has already poured over $400,000 into the home, the report spells both financial and emotional devastation.

“The bank doesn’t want to lend against these builds because they view them as high risk. We had to put up $250k of our own money before the bank would come to the party,” the owner told news.com.au.

“We’ve worked really hard and we thought this was an opportunity to provide for our family. My mum’s wish was to never go into a nursing home, so this way we could provide that to her.

“At the end of the day, I put my hand up too. It’s a commercial contract, I should have got legal advice.

“You don’t go into these things thinking you’re going to end up in this situation. You hear all these big volume builders going under, so I thought a smaller builder would have less issues.”

The homeowner has now confirmed the contract has been cancelled.

News.com.au has contacted the building company for comment.

Mr Khalil said the builder attempted to board up the house when they arrived. Picture: Site Inspections/YouTube

‘You don’t go into these things thinking you’re going to end up in this situation,’ the homeowner said.

With no domestic building insurance for Class 3 structures, she’s left to pursue legal action against the builder on her own, out of her own pocket.

Violations of the Victorian Building Act 1993 mean that the builder could face over $120,000 in penalties for breaches and failure to notify the building surveyor.

Site Inspectors released footage of the encounter on their popular YouTube channel, labelling this particular builder “the worst of the year”.

“We’re just asking you to use the minimum standard,” Mr Khalil says.

“I’m not being a prick saying ‘I don’t believe this’. You can go to jail if you breach the Building Act.

“If you steal chewing gum, you get a criminal record. Yet these guys who are breaking the law are getting away with it. It’s ruining lives.”

Originally published as Dodgy builder confronted at nightmare home as owner faces $300,000 loss