In the remote reaches of Western Australia’s far north, a house in the town of Derby has remained unoccupied for nearly two years. This stark reality unfolds against the backdrop of a significant housing shortage plaguing the region, leaving residents like Sam Hall in a frustrating predicament. Ms Hall’s ordeal began in 2023 when she entrusted a local builder with over $13,000 to renovate the laundry and spare bathroom in her Derby residence, a town located a considerable 2,000 kilometres north of Perth.
“It was a really old-style laundry, typical Derby old house,” Ms Hall explained, describing the initial state of the space. Her vision was straightforward: a tiled floor, new cabinetry, and a retiled shower – the fundamental elements of a functional bathroom. While the builder, identified as Stephen Keenan, who operated Keenan Building and Maintenance, initially completed these basic tasks, the situation rapidly deteriorated.
A Cascade of Construction Calamities
The problems became apparent within a mere four to six weeks of the renovation’s completion. “The grout was giving way,” Ms Hall recounted, a clear indication that the work was far from satisfactory. Her attempts to rectify the situation were met with an unsatisfactory response. “I rang him, and he said he’d fix it, but he never did anything.”
The issues escalated beyond cosmetic flaws. The laundry and bathroom drainage began to malfunction, leading to an unpleasant and pervasive odour. “The water was not draining properly, and soon a foul odour began emanating from the shower,” she stated. As time passed, the stench intensified, becoming unbearable. “Over time, there was a stench, and I put it down to the pipes not being used for a while… and it got to nearly December and I couldn’t stand it anymore,” Ms Hall expressed her growing distress. Her attempts to communicate with the builder became futile. “He wouldn’t reply to me, no emails, nothing.”
Uncovering the Shoddy Workmanship
A builder friend of Ms Hall’s offered a crucial suggestion: to remove some of the tiling to investigate the root cause of the persistent problems. What they discovered was deeply concerning. “It was just this mushy mess under there, because it was sitting there soaked,” she described the damp and degraded state of the underlay. The investigation revealed a critical failure in the building process. “He used gyprock underneath the tiles… when we pulled that up you could see the waterproofing. It was all just completely wrong.” The use of gyprock, unsuitable for wet areas without proper sealing, and the apparent lack of adequate waterproofing meant that water was seeping into the structure, causing rot and damage.
A Battle Through the System
With no other recourse, Ms Hall lodged a complaint with the building commissioner. An investigation uncovered a litany of defects, including improper substrate and waterproofing, and faulty grouting. Mr Keenan contested these findings, leading the matter to be escalated to the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT). Crucially, Mr Keenan failed to present any evidence to counter Ms Hall’s claims. The SAT ultimately ruled that the “defective” work did not meet Australian standards.
The tribunal’s judgment was unequivocal: “We conclude the respondent failed to carry out the building service in a proper and proficient manner and the same is faulty and unsatisfactory.” Mr Keenan was ordered to pay $9,970 to rectify the shoddy work by January 10, 2025, with a daily penalty of $1.64 to be added until the full amount was settled. However, Ms Hall reported that Mr Keenan was absent for the judgement and she had been unable to contact him since, receiving no payment.
The Elusive Builder and Unfulfilled Justice
A subsequent order from the magistrates’ court mandated the payment of the debt in Mr Keenan’s absence. Yet, Ms Hall faced further obstacles in serving the necessary legal papers due to her inability to locate him. In November 2025, the court sanctioned the issuance of an arrest warrant for Mr Keenan, contingent on the filing of the relevant paperwork. However, to date, no warrant has been executed, as Ms Hall has been unable to track his whereabouts.
The Profound Personal Toll
The ramifications of this building nightmare have extended far beyond the financial. Ms Hall described the emotional and personal toll as “immense.” Without a functioning shower, she and her teenage son resorted to using a backyard hose for their ablutions. This untenable situation ultimately led them to vacate their home.
“It’s a shame because I can’t live here and I can’t rent the house out, so it’s been sitting here empty for nearly two years now,” Ms Hall lamented, highlighting the lost rental income. The renovation, which consumed her savings, has also severely impacted her financial stability and future aspirations. “It’s really hard when you’re a separated mother on one income,” she stated. Her plans to relocate to Broome for her son’s education, which included a secured job and accommodation, have been “stuffed up” by the ordeal.
A Call for Industry Standards and Accountability
Statistics from WA Building and Energy reveal a concerning trend, with 256 disputes in regional WA reported to the Building Commissioner since 2024, including 14 from the Kimberley region alone. Matt Moran, Chief Executive of Master Builders WA, while unable to comment on Ms Hall’s specific case, emphasised the industry’s need to weed out unscrupulous operators. “We need a strong industry, and it’s critical we have people who do the right thing, that look after consumers,” he asserted. “It gives everyone a bad name. We don’t want dodgy builders in this industry.”
Mr Moran stressed the importance of professionalising the building sector, particularly in light of the pressing need for more housing across Western Australia. “The reality is there are issues in regional parts in WA. Ultimately, we need quality builders. We need to build more homes.” Despite multiple attempts, the ABC was unable to obtain a comment from Mr Keenan or locate him at any addresses associated with his name in the Kimberley.
