Kit home customers fall through cracks | Bundaberg News | Local News in Bundaberg

SUE and Steve Stanger face the miserable prospect of a second loan on their Avondale plot, after falling through the cracks between the Building Services Authority and the Office of Fair Trading.

Like Shane McMullen, who was arrested on Sunday after a confrontation with Public Works Minister Robert Schwarten, the Stangers paid Steelsmart Homes for a kit they have never received.

Mrs Stanger said the couple had no help from the Building Services Authority (BSA) because they were owner-builders, and they had little hope of assistance from the Office of Fair Trading.

“You've got to get a BSA licence to build the home - yet they won't help us,” Mrs Stanger said.

She said the BSA should have more powers to assist former Steelsmart Homes customers, particularly due to the company's close ties to Coral Coast Homes.

“We ordered bricks and window fittings through (Steelsmart Homes), and they used the same BSA number as Coral Coast Homes,” she said.

But Public Works Minister Mr Schwarten said that consumer protection legislation in Queensland was structured around consumers contracting with a licensed building contractor for both the supply and construction of their home.

“Whether or not the components of the home are in a kit form is of no concern to the consumer, provided they enter a contract with a licensed building contractor which incorporates the kit as part of the total contract price,” he said.

“It was for this reason that the BSA was able to assist the majority of clients who had contracts with Coral Coast Homes Pty Ltd for construction based on a kit.

“People who purchase a kit home with the intention of constructing it themselves as an owner-builder need to take the same precautions as any prudent consumer would take when making a substantial purchase.”

He said customers should consider paying only a small deposit, and putting money into trust, with the bulk of the purchase price paid when goods were received.