Award-Winning Builder Blames Regulations for Australian Housing Shortage

It takes nine times longer for officials to process paperwork than it does to put up a house

The newly-crowned regional small business of the year has blamed red tape for the housing shortage that is threatening to stifle progress in the North West.

The House Factory in Kununurra, which was the overall winner of the GWN7 Regional Small Business Awards, claims it can erect one of its pre-fabricated homes up to nine times faster than it takes authorities to meet their obligations.

Director Kent Osmotherly said it took only 20 days for the company to lay a concrete slab and put together the flat-pack home.

But it took four to six months for relevant building licences, telephone and power connections, energy rating advice and other approvals required for construction.