{"id":784714,"date":"2026-07-07T12:01:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:01:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/784714\/"},"modified":"2026-07-07T12:01:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-07T12:01:16","slug":"queensland-grandfather-battling-cancer-left-out-of-pocket-after-tiny-homes-company-collapse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/784714\/","title":{"rendered":"Queensland grandfather battling cancer left out of pocket after tiny homes company collapse"},"content":{"rendered":"

An 85-year-old grandfather battling prostate cancer is among almost 200 customers left devastated after a Queensland<\/a> tiny homes company collapsed, owing $5.5 million.<\/p>\n

Stuart Hicks and his family paid a $30,000 deposit for a home he\u2019ll never receive after Geebung-based My Little House<\/a> went bust last month.<\/p>\n

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Tiny homes company collapse leaves customers $5.5m out of pocket<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today Arrow<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cIt really upsets you. I haven\u2019t been sleeping that much, but I try and, you know, put my mind on something else,\u201d Hicks said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey showed us around, they sat down and spoke to us and we told them our situation,\u201d Tania Hicks said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey were just all full of it really, just out to grab someone\u2019s money.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"StuartStuart Hicks and family. Credit: 7NEWS\"They\u2019veThey\u2019ve been left $30,000 out of pocket. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Experts are now calling for an urgent review of the regulations.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaking tiny houses as part of the dwelling mix is a good way to help with housing affordability,\u201d said Dr Heather Shearer, Griffith University\u2019s urban planning expert.<\/p>\n

The state government has confirmed it\u2019s considering whether the building code could apply to tiny homes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have very clear definitions around what a dwelling is. We are working to modernise that and update that,\u201d Housing Minister Sam O\u2019Connor said.<\/p>\n

\"MyMy Little House went bust last month. Credit: 7NEWS\"TheThe state government is considering urban planning changes. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

Staff and suppliers have made a further $8 million in claims against the company.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we don\u2019t get anything back from it, we\u2019ll just have to start from scratch again. It\u2019s killing us, honestly,\u201d Tania Hicks said.<\/p>\n

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