An 85-year-old grandfather battling prostate cancer is among nearly 200 customers left devastated after a Queensland tiny homes company collapsed, owing $5.5 million. Stuart Hicks and his family paid a $30,000 deposit for a home they will never receive after Geebung-based My Little House went bust last month.
Family's Heartbreak and Financial Loss
“It really upsets you. I haven’t been sleeping that much, but I try and put my mind on something else,” Hicks said. “They showed us around, they sat down and spoke to us and we told them our situation,” Tania Hicks added. “They were just all full of it really, just out to grab someone’s money.” The family is now $30,000 out of pocket.
Regulatory Gap Exposed
The collapse has exposed a major gap in consumer protection, with tiny homes treated more like caravans and largely not covered by the Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC) safety net that applies to traditional homes. Experts are now calling for an urgent review of the regulations.
Calls for Change
“Making tiny houses as part of the dwelling mix is a good way to help with housing affordability,” said Dr Heather Shearer, Griffith University’s urban planning expert. The state government has confirmed it is considering whether the building code could apply to tiny homes. “We have very clear definitions around what a dwelling is. We are working to modernise that and update that,” Housing Minister Sam O’Connor said.
Administrators Seek to Recover Funds
Staff and suppliers have made a further $8 million in claims against the company. Administrators are now in talks to sell off assets including container domes, display homes and spare parts. If no deal can be reached, everything will go under the hammer to try to return money to those left in the lurch. “If we don’t get anything back from it, we’ll just have to start from scratch again. It’s killing us, honestly,” Tania Hicks said.
