Owning a home is often regarded as one of the most significant investments an individual can make.
Beyond the financial commitment, a home embodies dreams, memories, and a sense of belonging.
It is a sanctuary where families grow, celebrations occur, and life’s milestones are marked. The emotional attachment to a home is profound, making the thought of losing it an unimaginable hardship.
Yet, despite the best intentions and efforts, there are times when the unthinkable becomes reality as the following homeowners have found out.
NSW couple face $1m fine for living in tiny house
A couple in New South Wales is facing potential homelessness or a $1 million fine after being ordered by the local council to demolish their tiny house.
Manu Bohn and his partner, who built the tiny home on a friend’s farm in the Bega Valley in 2023, are caught in a legal bind due to the structure being deemed unauthorised under NSW Environmental Planning legislation.
The couple, who turned to this affordable housing option following the Black Summer bushfires and rising property costs, could face severe penalties if they do not comply.
Mr Bohn recently expressed the difficulty of the situation online, highlighting the lack of affordable housing and the threat of becoming homeless.
“If you live in the Bega Valley you will have seen homelessness, limited rental stock, soaring rents and property sales prices all contributing to people living in caravans and other movable dwellings,” the 30-year-old, who moved to Australia from Brazil in 2018, wrote in a petition launched on change.org.
“The sad reality is that many families who love this place are leaving because they can’t afford to stay here any more.”
The tiny house, which was their only viable living option, now leaves them with an uncertain future.
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The tiny home is located on a friend’s property in the Bega Valley. Picture: Facebook/Manu Bohn
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Bega Valley Shire Council sent a draft order stating the home needed to be ‘removed or demolished’. Picture: Facebook/Manu Bohn
Horrific reason couple’s $660k home became too dangerous to live in
A young family on the Gold Coast was devastated to find their newly purchased home infested with termites, just three months after buying it for $660,000.
Shaun and Sarah Sarson were assured by a building inspector that the property was free of issues.
However, Mrs Sarson soon discovered termites emerging from a bathroom power point, describing the scene as akin to a horror movie.
The infestation was so severe that the family had to vacate the premises and file an insurance claim.
A second inspector confirmed the extensive damage, suggesting demolition and rebuild as the only viable solution.
I’ve done a lot of crying, also we have little kids, they are two and three years old and just finding out that…it wasn’t even safe to be in here, there are holes in the major beams,’ Mrs Sarson told the Daily Mail.
It was revealed that a previous prospective buyer had identified termite issues and shared the report with the real estate agent, who claimed no obligation to disclose such problems to future buyers.
The Real Estate Institute of Queensland reiterated that agents and sellers are not required to volunteer information about property issues, emphasising the principle of ‘buyer beware’.
A second building inspector told the family it was one of the worst infestations (pictured) he had ever seen and the house was basically a ‘write off’
Family ordered to cut off side of new home after ‘clear violation’
A family on the Gold Coast was compelled to alter their new home due to an oversight that resulted in two properties being constructed just 40 centimetres apart.
Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla faced difficulties completing their home in Coomera Waters because builders couldn’t fit scaffolding between the structures.
An investigation by Gold Coast City Council revealed that the neighbour’s building plans violated setback requirements.
Despite the neighbour’s belief that their plans were approved, the council found the second floor non-compliant and ordered a 1.5-metre reduction from the completed home.
In 2022, after an almost year-long saga, Ms Morin said she finally felt vindicated.
“I mean, finally justice was done. We’d been waiting so long and so stressed out,” she said.
Kathy Morin and Devon Matsalla’s neighbour’s house was built so close to theirs that tradies could not get up scaffolding. Source. A Current Affair.
Canberra family’s dream $1.8m house in Reid to be demolished
A Canberra family was left devastated in 2021, after discovering asbestos in their newly purchased $1.8 million heritage home, rendering it unlikeable.
Dean Papas and his wife, who bought the 1927-built property in Reid, had extensively renovated it before uncovering asbestos fibres in the ceiling.
The discovery linked their home to the Mr Fluffy asbestos scandal, where loose fibres were blown into homes between 1968 and 1979.
Despite urgent testing confirming asbestos presence, the family had to temporarily reside in the house during Canberra’s lockdown.
The government has since purchased the property back, with demolition scheduled for early 2022.
Mr Papas, a builder, now advocates for mandatory asbestos testing for homes built before the 1980s to prevent similar situations.
The Reid property before it was renovated.
Dean Papas, a builder, doesn’t want another person to go through the same ordeal. Picture: Supplied
Couple ordered to demolish dream home
A UK couple have been ordered to demolish their £1 million ($A2 million) home after violating planning regulations.
Initially granted permission to build a stallion semen collection centre and laboratory, Jeremy and Elaine Zielinski instead constructed a three-bedroom residential home in Great Abingdon, Cambridgeshire.
The council discovered the unauthorised dwelling and mandated its demolition.
Despite appealing the decision, the couple’s appeal was rejected, with the planning inspector noting the property was intended as a residence from the outset, lacking any laboratory or business facilities.
The pair were also criticised for their “clear and flagrant breach of planning policy”.
The Zielinskis, who were unaware of their breach, now face losing their investment and home, expressing their desire to continue living in the comfortable residence.
“We want to carry on living here. It’s a warm and comfortable home. I love it,” Mrs Zielinski, 79, told the Daily Mail.
“It doesn’t make sense to tear it down. I don’t want to go and live in a caravan. If we are chucked out, we will be having to rely on the state.
“We would not have gone on and built this and put all our money into it unless we thought it was totally legal to do it.”
A UK couple have been ordered to demolish their £1 million dream home. Picture: Supplied
Dream retirement home to be demolished – five years after it was built
A couple’s £725,000 ($A 1.2 million) retirement home in Cambridgeshire was set for demolition due to severe structural issues in 2021, only five years after it was built.
Originally constructed in 2018, the five-bedroom house was plagued by metre-long cracks caused by swelling clay soil beneath its foundations.
Madeline and Alastair Price, aged 70 and 69, could no longer open the front door, and insurers deemed the damage irreparable, ordering a complete rebuild.
The couple’s home, situated in the village of Wicken, was intended as a dream countryside retreat.
However, the expanding clay soil had lifted the house, causing significant structural damage. Despite a 10-year guarantee under Local Authority Building Control, the builders failed to account for the soil conditions.
The Prices’ received compensation to rent a property for six months during the rebuild, but were uncertain at time of reporting, if they will return or sell the home once completed.
The dream retirement home in a countryside has been demolished. Picture: SWNS/Mega.
Madeline and Alastair Price couldn’t open the front door of their wonky five-bed house. Picture: SWNS/Mega
Family’s home so defective, experts recommend it be demolished
A couple’s dream to build a waterfront home for their blended family in Primrose Sands, Tasmania, turned into a nightmare.
Kev Haley and Sonia Gardner faced numerous construction defects in 2021, leading experts to recommend demolishing the unfinished house.
The couple, who began the project in 2016, encountered issues such as water ingress and improperly installed windows.
After severing ties with their builder, a surveyor identified 47 defects, including corroding structural steel.
The estimated cost to demolish and rebuild is $2.4 million, far beyond their budget.
Despite seeking help from the state’s building regulator, they received little assistance and have spent $340,000 on legal fees.
The ordeal has taken a severe emotional toll, leading to family separation and ongoing financial strain.
The case highlights broader issues in Tasmania’s building industry, with calls for improved oversight and regulation.
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