Dreams of more homeowners dash after builder goes broke due to $1.1 million
The dreams of more homeowners are dashed when the construction company goes bankrupt owing $1.1 million and leaving clients thousands of dollars out of pocket.
- Gold Coast builders Sunfox went into administration
- The company owes $1.1 million to creditors and the tax office
- Customers say they have not been refunded
Another Australian construction company has gone under with $1.1 million in debt, crushing the dreams of those who had a contract with the company to build their home.
Sunfox, based on Queensland’s Gold Coast, promised it would help families “build their dream home with confidence” but has now appointed trustees after complaints of unpaid bills and canceled contracts.
It comes after the Queensland Building and Construction Commission restricted the company’s license last month due to its financial situation.
Pictured is Art of Homes director Corey Hobbins with his wife Rachael. Clients say they have not been able to contact the couple.
The business, which was trading under the name Art of Homes, has now been inundated with reviews from angry customers online.
‘Avoid Sunfox at all costs. They owe families and businesses hundreds of thousands of dollars!’ one person wrote.
They added that they are struggling to get a response via email or call.
Administrators Edwin Narayan and Domenic Calabretta said the company owes creditors more than $1.1 million, including $324,297 in taxes.
The company completed $6.3 million worth of projects across 19 residential properties in 2020/21, but this dropped to just three $1.2 million worth of projects last fiscal year, QBCC records show.
The company completed $6.3 million worth of projects across 19 residential properties in 2020/21, but this dropped to just three $1.2 million worth of projects last fiscal year, QBCC records show (in the image, a screenshot from the company’s website)
One prospective owner said he canceled his lease after a year and the company refused to return the $48,000 deposit.
We are paying rent and mortgages and that is paralyzing us. How can someone do this? Don’t touch them and tell everyone to avoid them too,” Lismore resident Jess Ambridge wrote online.
Another customer said he is owed more than $10,000 but can’t reach anyone at the company.
“We have not been able to locate them,” he told the daily telegraph.