When Bella and Josh left Sydney for the NSW Southern Highlands, they couldn’t wait to build a dream home for their daughter to grow up in.

But instead, they’ve spent more than $615,000 on a half-built house riddled with severe structural defects, which experts now say must be torn down.

How Bella’s dream home became a $615,000 demolition nightmare. A Current Affair

“We thought we were signing a contract with just a trusted builder that was from the local area,” Bella told A Current Affair. “But it’s been nothing but a nightmare.”

To save money during construction, the family crammed into an old demountable on the property, metres away from the build site.

Bella said she completed thorough background checks on local builder Glen Ballantine from Glenbuilt Constructions before signing on the dotted line.

“We’d seen him quite a bit locally. He presents really nicely online. There wasn’t any bad feedback about him,” she said.

“He held a license, he ticked all the boxes.”

Bella said she completed thorough background checks on local builder Glen Ballantine before signing on the dotted line. A Current Affair

However, red flags quickly began to emerge. Bella said the concrete slab cost an additional $80,000 without any formal written variation.

Shortly after the slab was completed, the project was shut down by its certifier because work had started without a required construction certificate.

Concerned about the build, she invited an independent inspector to the worksite.

They said it was littered with defects, including severe cracking in the slab, roofing insulation issues, and a lack of termite protection.

“We brought that information to our builder, and he wasn’t very happy about it,” Bella said.

She lodged a complaint with the Building Commission NSW, but it was closed without a solution. So she went to the building minister to get it reopened.

Inspectors ordered Glenbuilt Constructions to return and rectify eight pages of building defects.

While the builder returned briefly, Bella said the most critical structural failures were left untouched.

Independent experts have since advised that the defects are so extensive that the entire structure must be demolished.

Despite the ongoing dispute and outstanding orders, the Building Commission recently renewed Ballantine’s building license. A Current Affair

Despite the ongoing dispute and outstanding orders, the Building Commission recently renewed Ballantine’s building license.

Bella is now pursuing legal action against Glenbuilt Constructions. Public records show the company was previously ordered to pay $7500 for unpaid invoices to a plumbing contractor last year, and another matter is currently before the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NCAT).

When approached by A Current Affair for a sit-down interview, Ballantine declined.

The financial and emotional toll has been crushing for the family, who have watched their life savings disappear.

“I’m a very different person, I know that,” Bella said.

“Scarlett at times has had to support me when it’s probably me that’s supposed to be supporting her. It’s not a childhood, it’s not a life any child should have.

“I would rather be renting a tiny apartment near the beach with no hope of getting on the housing market than being right here, right now. The person I was then was a lot happier.”