Costly home blunder leaves owners facing forced move after crucial mistake
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Buying your dream home is meant to be a joyful milestone, notably when it marks the beginning of a peaceful retirement.
But for one couple, that dream has unravelled into a costly and complex ordeal due to a single, critical error.
After years of planning and building, they’ve discovered their new home isn’t where they thought it was—and now they’re facing a situation no one ever wants to imagine.
Back in 2021, the Moors were excited to start their new chapter. They purchased what they believed was a 2-hectare block in a large subdivision, fell in love with the views, and put down a $5,000 deposit.
After securing all the necessary permits, they installed a driveway, connected power and water, and moved a relocatable house onto the land. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
But three years later, as they were putting the finishing touches on their home, the council called with shocking news: they’d built on the wrong block. The land they actually owned was next door.
The confusion started early. The subdivision was still a large paddock when the Moors first inspected it, and the real estate agent showed them what they thought was their block.
Fence post numbers and the agent’s tour all seemed to confirm it. But the contract of sale wasn’t signed until months later, after the land had been subdivided.
The agent’s spokesperson later said it was the Moors’ responsibility to confirm the correct block before building.
But with so many moving parts—builders, tradies, and even the council involved—it’s easy to see how things got muddled.
The builder’s paperwork only listed the road name, not the lot number, and the council approved permits based on documents that included soil samples from the wrong block.
Even council staff visited the site multiple times to inspect the work, but no one picked up on the error until it was too late.
When the real owner of the block—who lives interstate—found out, they were understandably shocked.
They’d bought the land from a relative and had no idea a house was being built on it. After failed negotiations (including a proposed land swap that didn’t work out due to differences in the blocks and potential tax issues), the owner’s lawyers issued a 14-day notice: move the house and restore the land, or risk losing everything.
The Moors, devastated, said they simply couldn’t afford to move the house again.
The contractor warned that the house might not survive another relocation, and the couple had already spent over $500,000—essentially their entire life savings. If forced to move, demolition might be their only option.
It’s a tangled web. The Moors feel the council should have caught the mistake during the permit process.
The agent says the buyers should have double-checked. The builder and tradies followed the driveway and the instructions they were given.
And the council, now facing legal action, has declined to comment.
For the Moors, this isn’t just a legal battle—it’s a personal tragedy. 'We’ve spent over $500,000 on this,' Ms Moor said.
'It’s our life savings, we’ve got nothing left.' The stress and uncertainty have taken a huge toll, and as Mr Moor put it, 'I don’t see there’s going to be a winner.'
Have you ever experienced a property mix-up, or do you have advice for others navigating the tricky world of real estate? Do you think the council, the agent, or the buyers are most at fault here? We’d love to hear your thoughts and stories in the comments below.
Read more: One mistake turns dream home into disaster: 'It's the pickle of all pickles'
But for one couple, that dream has unravelled into a costly and complex ordeal due to a single, critical error.
After years of planning and building, they’ve discovered their new home isn’t where they thought it was—and now they’re facing a situation no one ever wants to imagine.
Back in 2021, the Moors were excited to start their new chapter. They purchased what they believed was a 2-hectare block in a large subdivision, fell in love with the views, and put down a $5,000 deposit.
After securing all the necessary permits, they installed a driveway, connected power and water, and moved a relocatable house onto the land. Everything seemed to be going smoothly.
A Victorian couple accidentally built a home on the wrong block, and now face legal action. Credit: ABC Melbourne Facebook
But three years later, as they were putting the finishing touches on their home, the council called with shocking news: they’d built on the wrong block. The land they actually owned was next door.
The confusion started early. The subdivision was still a large paddock when the Moors first inspected it, and the real estate agent showed them what they thought was their block.
Fence post numbers and the agent’s tour all seemed to confirm it. But the contract of sale wasn’t signed until months later, after the land had been subdivided.
The agent’s spokesperson later said it was the Moors’ responsibility to confirm the correct block before building.
But with so many moving parts—builders, tradies, and even the council involved—it’s easy to see how things got muddled.
The builder’s paperwork only listed the road name, not the lot number, and the council approved permits based on documents that included soil samples from the wrong block.
Even council staff visited the site multiple times to inspect the work, but no one picked up on the error until it was too late.
When the real owner of the block—who lives interstate—found out, they were understandably shocked.
They’d bought the land from a relative and had no idea a house was being built on it. After failed negotiations (including a proposed land swap that didn’t work out due to differences in the blocks and potential tax issues), the owner’s lawyers issued a 14-day notice: move the house and restore the land, or risk losing everything.
The Moors, devastated, said they simply couldn’t afford to move the house again.
The contractor warned that the house might not survive another relocation, and the couple had already spent over $500,000—essentially their entire life savings. If forced to move, demolition might be their only option.
It’s a tangled web. The Moors feel the council should have caught the mistake during the permit process.
The agent says the buyers should have double-checked. The builder and tradies followed the driveway and the instructions they were given.
And the council, now facing legal action, has declined to comment.
For the Moors, this isn’t just a legal battle—it’s a personal tragedy. 'We’ve spent over $500,000 on this,' Ms Moor said.
'It’s our life savings, we’ve got nothing left.' The stress and uncertainty have taken a huge toll, and as Mr Moor put it, 'I don’t see there’s going to be a winner.'
Read more: One mistake turns dream home into disaster: 'It's the pickle of all pickles'
