Season 7 was confirmed in June 2018 with applications for the seventh season of House Rules open between June and 7 September 2018 on the official Network Seven website.[3][4] Season 7 was officially confirmed in October 2018,[5] as well with the announcement of new judge, Jamie Durie, who replaces Drew Heath.[6] Production for the series began in November 2018.[7]
This season of House Rules consisted of new teams renovating each other's homes and further challenges for an ultimate prize of $250,000.
Format changes
Teams – This season includes six teams instead of seven teams like in the previous season.
Prize Money – Unlike the previous season, the prize money is already pre-determined. The prize for this season is $250,000.
Advantage – When a team has the highest score after a house renovation, they receive an advantage of 5 bonus points and $5000 for the next renovation; however, to get the advantage, they and another team (of their choice) have to reveal a room early, judged by the homeowners. The team with the best room receives the advantage.
House Evaluation – After each interior renovation and exterior renovation, a property expert from Century 21 valued each teams houses. They told the team the evaluation of the house before the renovation was complete and then give them a card with the new evaluation, after the completed renovation.
Interior Renovation House Evaluation
Team
Evaluation
Added Value
Before Renovation
After Renovation
Pete & Courtney
$720,000
$850,000
$130,000
Lisa & Andy
$311,000
$425,000
$114,000
Mikaela & Eliza
$725,000
$825,000
$100,000
Tim & Mat
$930,000
$1,075,000
$145,000
Shayn & Carly
$460,000
$585,000
$125,000
Katie & Alex
$430,000
$760,000
$330,000
Garden/Exterior Evaluation
Team
Evaluation
Added Value
After IR Renovation
After G/E Renovation
Lisa & Andy
$425,000
$475,000
$50,000
Tim & Mat
$1,075,000
$1,110,000
$35,000
Shayn & Carly
$585,000
$610,000
$25,000
Pete & Courtney
$850,000
$940,000
$90,000
Grand Final – For the first time in House Rules history, three teams will compete against each other in the Grand Final, unlike previous seasons where it had only ever been two teams.
Description — In the first challenge, the teams had three days to renovate a room each in a warehouse apartment (which is above their new home base). The highest scoring team will receive an advantage for the first interior renovation.
Warehouse Apartment
Sydney, New South Wales
House Rules
Rule 1
Expose the warehouse
Rule 2
Show us what’s "hot" right now
Rule 3
Create a jewel in each room
Rule 4
Breathe life back in with colour
Rule 5
Stay together at all times
Team
Zone
Scores
Total (out of 30)
Running Total (WHA)
Jamie
Laurence
Wendy
Mikaela & Eliza
Bedroom 3
8
7
7
22
22 / 30
Shayn & Carly
Study
7
8
6
21
21 / 30
Katie & Alex
Bedroom 2
7
8
5
20
20 / 30
Tim & Mat
Bedroom 1
8
6
6
20
20 / 30
Pete & Courtney
Loungeroom
6
6
6
18
18 / 30
Lisa & Andy
Dining room
5
5
5
15
15 / 30
Phase 2: Interior Renovation
The six teams traveled around the country to completely renovate each other's home. Every week, one team handed over their house to their opponents for a complete interior transformation. A set of rules from the owners were given to the teams known as the 'House Rules' which needed to be followed to gain high scores from the judges and the homeowner team.
Victoria: Pete & Courtney
Episodes 3 to 6
Airdate — 30 April to 6 May
Description — Teams headed to Pete & Courtney’s home in Ferntree Gully, Victoria for the first renovation. One of the bedrooms belong to their one year old son, Casper
Previous winner's advantage: Lisa & Andy — 5 bonus points and $5000 for their next renovation1
Previous loser's disadvantage: Lisa & Andy — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
*^1 Mikaela & Eliza first received the advantage, however had to compete against another team (Lisa & Andy) in early room reveal. Judged by the homeowners, they chose Lisa & Andy’s room, who received 5 bonus points
South Australia: Lisa & Andy
Episodes 7 to 10
Airdate — 7 to 13 May
Description — Teams headed to Lisa & Andy’s home in Adelaide, South Australia for the second renovation.
Previous winner's advantage: Katie & Alex — 5 bonus points and $5000 for their next renovation2
Previous loser's disadvantage: Shayn & Carly — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
*^2 Katie & Alex first received the advantage, however had to compete against another team (Pete & Courtney) in early room reveal. Judged by the homeowners, they chose Katie & Alex’s room, who received 5 bonus points
Western Australia: Mikaela & Eliza
Episodes 11 to 14
Airdate — 14 to 20 May
Description — Teams headed to Mikaela & Eliza’s home in Yallingup, Western Australia for the third renovation. The home belongs to their mum, Kristen.
Previous winner's advantage: Shayn & Carly — 5 bonus points and $5000 for their next renovation3
Previous loser's disadvantage: Due to a unanimous vote Mikaela & Eliza have to stay in the tent next renovation as they came last in the renovation before their home.
Renovation 3
Yallingup, Western Australia
House Rules
Rule 1
Give the house a coastal heart
Rule 2
Think beach for your colour scheme
Rule 3
Bring nature into nurture
Rule 4
Create a cool, tropical resort for Eliza
Rule 5
Celebrate Miakela’s adventurous soul
Team
Zone
Scores
Total (out of 40)
Running Total (WHA + Reno 1 to 3)
Homeowner
Jamie
Laurence
Wendy
Shayn & Carly
Kitchen & Eliza's Bedroom
9
7
7
7
35 (30 + 5)
111 / 150
Tim & Mat
Master Bedroom, Dressing Room & Laundry
8
8
7
8
31
113 / 150
Katie & Alex
Dining Room, Study & Walk-in-robe
10
7
7
6
30
119 / 150
Pete & Courtney
Loungeroom, Ensuite & Hallway
6
7
7
7
27
72 / 110
Lisa & Andy
Entry, Bathroom & Mikaela's Bedroom
7
6
6
7
26
70 / 110
Mikaela & Eliza
—
73 / 110
Notes
*^3 Katie & Alex first received the advantage, however had to compete against another team (Shayn & Carly) in early room reveal. Judged by the homeowners, they chose Shayn & Carly’s room, who received 5 bonus points
Victoria: Tim & Mat
Episodes 15 to 18
Airdate — 21 to 27 May
Description — Teams headed to Tim & Mat’s home in Melbourne, Victoria for the fourth renovation. The home belongs to Tim and his wife Kate and their one year-old daughter, Isabella.
Previous winner's advantage: Lisa & Andy — 5 bonus points and $5000 for their next renovation4
Previous loser's disadvantage: Lisa & Andy and Mikaela & Eliza — Camping in a tent during the renovation. Due to a unanimous vote Mikaela & Eliza have to stay in the tent as they came last in the renovation before their home.
*^4 Shayn & Carly first received the advantage, however had to compete against another team (Lisa & Andy) in early room reveal. Judged by the homeowners, they chose Lisa & Andy’s room, who received 5 bonus points
Queensland: Shayn & Carly
Episodes 19 to 22
Airdate — 28 May to 3 June
Description — Teams headed to Shayn & Carly’s home in Aroona, Queensland for the fifth renovation. Two of the bedrooms belong to their daughters; Harper, five years old and Imogen, three years old.
Previous winner's advantage: Pete & Courtney — 5 bonus points and $5000 for their next renovation5
Previous loser's disadvantage: Katie & Alex — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
*^5 Pete & Courtney first received the advantage, however had to compete against another team (Tim & Mat) in early room reveal. Judged by the homeowners, they chose Pete & Courtney’s room, who received 5 bonus points
New South Wales: Katie & Alex
Episodes 23 to 26
Airdate — 4 to 10 June
Description — Teams headed to Katie & Alex’s home in Gundaroo, NSW for the sixth and final interior renovation. One of the bedrooms belong to their one year old daughter, Hallie. The lowest scoring team overall will be eliminated.
Previous winner's advantage: Tim & Mat — 5 bonus points and $5000 for their next renovation6
Previous loser's disadvantage: Mikaela & Eliza — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
*^6 Tim & Mat first received the advantage, however had to compete against another team (Mikaela & Eliza) in early room reveal. Judged by the homeowners, they chose Tim & Mat’s room, who received 5 bonus points.
Phase 3
Give Back House
Episodes 27 to 29
Airdate — 16 to 23 June
Description — The 5 remaining teams headed to Campbelltown, New South Wales, namely the home of Mary, Graeme and their four shared children, whose home caught fire due to a faulty appliance and burnt down. The teams will renovate the house from the framework remaining of the house. The lowest scoring team at the end of the round was eliminated.
Previous winner's advantage: Tim & Mat — Keep or swap their zone, Bonus Room7 & a personal driver
^7 Due to winning the interior round phase, Tim & Mat were given two advantages during this round:
^7a They were given the choice to swap their zone with another team if they weren’t satisfied with their own. They decided to swap their zone and choose Shayn & Carly’s Zone to swap with them.
^7b They were given the power of the bonus room to keep it or give it to another team, they decided to keep it. The bonus room was a Family Room. Given 2 passes out of 3 from the judges it as a pass and the team gained 5 points, meaning their score of 17 rose to 22 taking them from last place to 4th place.
Phase 4: Gardens & Exteriors
The top 4 teams are challenged to transform the exteriors and gardens of each other's homes. Three teams are allocated to a home (that do not belong to them) and must renovate a zoned area in the gardens, as well as improving the house exterior. They are held over four rounds, covering all houses of the current teams. After the rounds are complete, the lowest scoring team is eliminated.
Round 1
Episodes 30 to 32
Airdate — 24 to 30 June
Description — In round 1 of the exterior renovations, three of the remaining teams head to Lisa & Andy’s home in Adelaide, South Australia to transform the backyard and house exterior in 4 Days. Teams are each allocated a zone in the gardens.
Golden Shovel winner's advantage: Tim & Mat — $5,000 & Fix Up Room8
^8 They were given the power of the fix up room to keep it or give it to another team, they decided to give it to Pete & Courtney. The fix up room was the Den. Given 3 passes out of 3 from the judges it was as a pass and the team gained 3 points, meaning their score of 22 rose to 25 however did not change position of place.
Round 2
Episodes 33 to 35
Airdate — 1 to 7 July
Description — In round 2 of the exterior renovations, three of the remaining teams head to Tim & Mat’s home in Melbourne, Victoria to transform the front & backyard and house exterior in 4 Days. Teams are each allocated a zone in the gardens.
Golden Shovel winner's advantage: Pete & Courtney — $5,000 & Fix Up Room9
^9 They were given the power of the fix up room, they could not keep it and had to give it to another team, they decided to give it to Lisa & Andy. The fix up room was the Master Bedroom. Given 2 passes out of 3 from the judges it was as a pass and the team gained 3 points, meaning their score of 27 rose to 30 however did not change position of place.
Round 3
Episodes 36 to 38
Airdate — 8 to 14 July
Description — In round 3 of the exterior renovations, three of the remaining teams head to Shayn & Carly’s home in Aroona, Queensland to transform house exterior in 4 Days. Teams are each allocated a zone in the gardens.
Golden Shovel winner's advantage: Lisa & Andy — $5,000 & Fix Up Room10
^10 They were given the power of the fix up room, they could not keep it and had to give it to another team, they decided to give it to Tim & Mat. The fix up room was the Harper’s Bedroom. Given 2 passes out of 3 from the judges it was as a pass and the team gained 3 points, meaning their score of 25 rose to 28 however it did not change position of place.
Round 4
Episodes 39 to 41
Airdate — 15 to 21 July
Description — In round 4 of the exterior renovations, three of the remaining teams head to Pete & Courtney’s home in Ferntree Gully, Victoria to transform house exterior in 4 Days. Teams are each allocated a zone in the gardens. The lowest scoring team overall will be eliminated.
Golden Shovel winner's advantage: Lisa & Andy — $5,000 & Fix Up Room11
^11 They were given the power of the fix up room, they could either keep it or could give it to another team, they decided to give it to Shayn & Carly. The fix up room was the Master Bedroom. Given 3 passes out of 3 from the judges it was as a pass and the team gained 3 points, meaning their score of 22 rose to 25 and moved them from last place to equal 2nd position.
Grand Final
Episode 42 & 43
Airdate — 22 & 23 July
Description — For the first time in House Rules history, 3 teams have 7 days to renovate a loft apartment. The team that receives the highest score won the season (thus becoming House Rules 2019 Champion) and received $250,000.
Renovation summary
Grand Final
House Rules
Rule 1
Create the ultimate luxury loft
Rule 2
Master a relaxed, sophisticated style
Rule 3
Unite with muted tertiary colours
Rule 4
Use surprising textures
Rule 5
Amaze by re-inventing the conventional
Team
Zone
Scores
Total (out of 30)
Final Result
Jamie
Laurence
Wendy
Pete & Courtney
Ensuite 1, Walkway, Dining Room, Master Bedroom & Laundry
9
10
10
29
Winners
Tim & Mat
Deck, Kitchen, WIR, Guest Bedroom 1, Study & Ensuite 2
aRatings data used is from OzTAM and represents the live and same day average viewership from the 5 largest Australian metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide).