Fresh lifeline for WA families affected by construction delays

In a lifeline for WA families waiting to get the keys to their dream home, the state government has extended its Builders’ Support Facility to help firms caught up in construction delays.

It’s the Australian dream but for the Huang family, building a home has become a nightmare.

The slab went down in Cannington in Perth’s south in August 2021, three years ago.

The build then suffered delays and, to make matters worse, the family-of-four’s rental was sold in the process, forcing them to move to a tiny apartment.

“Before, we were living in a small apartment, they only have got a two bedroom and my dad had to sleep together with my brother,” Yishan Huang said.

In January, the state government’s Builders’ Support Facility offered a lifeline to the Huangs’ builder, CU Building.

The $300,000 interest-free loan helps to cover the increasing costs of trades and construction delays.

“Cash flow has become a bigger and bigger issue,” builder Max Jia said

“Our company has definitely gone through those hard periods and we have managed to push projects like this to completion and hand them over to clients.”

The scheme helped complete 97 homes, including the Huangs’.

It’s been so successful it’s now been extended for another year.

Previously successful applicants are eligible to apply for this second round, taking their total loan-free grants to $600,000, with the aim to get more builds off the ground and keys into the hands of families.

Premier Roger Cook said: “More Western Australian families will have the opportunity to move into their completed homes sooner with this expanded and extended program, providing much needed relief to residential home builders and homeowners.”