Customers who signed up for their dream homes to be built have been plunged into a nightmare after a major building franchisee collapsed.The company they chose had promised “peace of mind” on its brochures, along with a high standard of workmanship, so it had seemed like a safe choice.
“G.J. Gardner Homes can regretfully confirm that independent builder LV Built Pty Ltd, trading as G.J. Gardner Homes Hobart West, has entered into liquidation and is now closed, as of 2 April 2024,” Mr Gardner told news.com.au in a statement. It comes after two other G.J. Gardner franchises collapsed last year. A franchisee in Springfield, Queensland, declared itself bankrupt, and Perth West entered liquidation.. Akinola Ekundayo said he contacted a Sydney office of G.J. Gardner Homes, and was passed on to the Hobart office.The family ended up signing a contract in August 2021 with LV Built, thinking it was with G.J. Gardner.
Meanwhile, another customer named Owen Knight said he immediately spotted issues with his Huon Valley build and said a portion of the slab “was missing”. “The corners of the slab had sort of chipped away and fallen in, and then it wasn’t square. We were told, don’t worry about it,” he alleged.He was shocked when told his house was finished, apparently prematurely.