By Neve Brissenden

Topic: Housing Construction Industry

Mon 27 Jul 2026 at 10:04am

Mon 27 Jul 2026 at 10:48am

Steve Harris bought a flat-pack home, but it's still in the box.

In short:

A home owner in Bunbury bought a flat-pack home, but it's been a problem.

It may cost him twice as much as he paid, and he's having trouble getting it approved.

What's next?

Consumer Protection is warning people about DIY and permit-free promises.

Steve Harris paid $26,000 for a tiny home in April, thinking it was a cheap way to build a hair salon.

It was supposed to be a 'build-in-a-weekend' job, but it's still not built.

The engineer said the glass on the doors is too thin, which is a problem.

It has been tough for Steve Harris.

The flat-pack home could cost him double what he paid, and he's fighting to get it approved.

Steve Harris says people should be careful when buying prefab homes.

An outdoor DIY garden shed is for sale online.

The company Steve Harris bought from is Australian, but the kits are made in Europe.

The company says DIY assembly can vary depending on the customer's experience and site conditions.

The company says not all customers will have the same experience.

Potential consumer law breach

The tiny home industry has seen a 120% increase in sales since 2021.

Consumer Protection is warning that some companies may be breaking consumer law.

WA's Commissioner for Consumer Protection says people should be careful of 'DIY' or 'permit-free homes' claims.

Trish Blake says promises of 'permit-free' homes should be looked at closely.

Trish Blake says people are looking for quick and easy ways to build homes, but prefab homes can be a problem.

A major issue with DIY kits is that they often don't meet Australian building standards.

Owners need to get council building approvals, which can take months.

If companies advertise 'permit-free' homes, they may be breaking consumer law.

Electrical and plumbing work can only be done by licensed professionals.

Steve Harris's tiny home is still not built, even though he bought it in April.

Standards not up to scratch

Bunbury builder Deon Attard says he's seeing problems with tiny homes from overseas.

People who buy tiny homes from overseas often don't save money, and the quality is not good.

Deon Attard advises working with professionals.

Houses built overseas often need 'reworks' to meet Australian standards.

Australian building standards exist for a reason, says Deon Attard.

Deon Attard says people should look for local builders instead of buying from overseas.

Find a local modular or tiny home builder and work with them on the design.

See more ABC coverage in your search results

Promotion

Praticar Escuta