Australian couple bought land to build home; council ruling leaves them stuck

The dream of staying close to family remains a pipe dream for an Australian couple. In 2024, Caitlin Holme and Chris Robinson bought into a sprawling 1,840-square-metre block in Bulli, hoping to build a second modular home. Ms Holme's sister already occupied one on the rear of the property. Their plan was simple: two families, two homes and a shared block. The sisters could live next door. But it has been two years, and the couple is still waiting to build their home. What’s the problem? According to Wollongong City Council, two modular homes on the property constitute a ‘manufactured housing estate’, which is not allowed under the site’s zoning rules.No home, and yet paying mortgage and rent"I think not many people realise there was this weird thing. Like suddenly two houses means it's a manufactured housing estate? It's not a caravan park,” Ms Holme told ABC News.