'Absolute nightmare' forces WA family of six to live in shed

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The dreams of more would-be homeowners have been dashed following the collapse of another major building company in Western Australia.

Home Innovation Builders plunged into administration yesterday, just days after the WA-based New Sensation Homes was wound up.

Both companies have struggled in turbulent headwinds striking the construction sector, where the rising costs of materials, worker shortages and unviable fixed-cost contracts have sunk major building players across Australia.

WA mum-of-four Tiarna Nouwland was meant to move into her home this month. (9News)

The fallout has left suppliers and clients in the lurch.

WA mum Tiarna Nouwland told 9News her family’s life had spiralled into an “absolute nightmare” because of Home Innovation Builders going bust.

Ms Nouwland, her husband and four children have been forced to live in a shed since September as construction of her home ground to a complete halt.

The family of six was set to move into their new home this month, but there is no chance of that happening.

“We have never built and it was a dream of ours that we always wanted to do,” she said.

“Unfortunately that dream has turned into an absolute nightmare.”

The Nouwland family are now facing the uncomfortable prospect of living through winter in a shed on their plot of land in Gabbadah, 80 kilometres north of Perth.

Frustratingly, their half-finished home sits adjacent to the white tin shed.

The Nouwland family have been living in a shed for the past six months as their "dream" of a moving into a new home never materialised. — The Nouwland family have been living in a shed for the past six months as their “dream” of a moving into a new home never materialised. (9News)

A wave of Australian building companies have gone bust in the past nine months.

Construction giants Probuild and Condev collapsed earlier this year, throwing a cloud of doubt over billions of dollars of major projects, and leaving sub-contractors and tradies out of pocket.

A building insolvency expert last month warned building companies will continue to fold throughout the year, with a domino effect rippling down the supply chain.

Source: 9News