Applications for the fifth season of House Rules were open between 1 June and 30 July 2016 on the House Rules official network seven website.[2] Johanna Griggs announced the series is in pre-production and that she is returning as host for season 5.[3] Season 5 was officially confirmed in October 2016.[4]
This season of House Rules will consist of new teams renovating each other's homes and further challenges for the ultimate prize of $200,000.
Format Changes
New Judges - This season will introduce two new judges, international design stylist, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and award-winning Australian architect and builder, Drew Heath, who will both be joining Wendy Moore. Judge of previous seasons, Joe Snell, will not be returning.[5][6]
Ultimate Prize - The winners of this season will receive the ultimate prize of $200,000, as opposed to all previous seasons where the winners had received a full mortgage payment.[7]
Bonus Room - During the Interior Renovations, one team is given the Bonus Room, which has its own rule but has to be finished in the same duration as the renovation. The team has the decision to keep it or give it to another team. The room is a "pass" or "fail" room only judged by the homeowners, meaning if they like it, the team receives 5 bonus points to their total score, but if they do not, they lose 5 points from the total score.
Grand Final - This will be the first season to not have a Live Grand Final, meaning the team with the highest score from the judges will win unlike previous seasons where the winners are decided by a combination of the judges score and the viewers vote.
Contestant Teams
This season of House Rules introduced six new teams. All teams are from different states in Australia.
The six teams travel around the country to completely renovate each other's home. Every week, one team hands over their house to their opponents for a complete interior transformation. A set of rules from the owners are given to the teams known as the 'House rules' which need to be followed to gain high scores from the judges and the homeowner team.
Victoria: Fiona & Nicole
Episodes 1 to 3
Airdate — 30 April to 2 May
Description — Teams head to their first renovation in Lake Fyans, Victoria, the hometown of Fiona & Nicole, to renovate Fiona's house. Two of the bedrooms belong to Fiona's children; Keanan, 11 years old and Bannon, 14 years old. For the first time in House Rules history, the original house will be knocked down and a new house will be completely rebuilt from the ground up.
Renovation 1
Lake Fyans, Victoria
House Rules
Rule 1
Style our shack contemporary country
Rule 2
Go glam with feminine sparkles in the master suite & lounge
Rule 3
Compliment blues with pops of red
Rule 4
Showcase metallics, chunky timber and stone fireplaces
Rule 5
Splash the family bathroom with stripes
Bonus Room Rule
Embrace the grampians with an entertainers outdoor room
*^1 Andrew & Jono received the bonus room and decided to keep it. The bonus room was an Outdoor Entertainment Room. Fiona & Nicole judged it as a fail and the boys lost 5 points, meaning their score of 21 dropped to 16 taking them from 3rd place to bottom place.
South Australia: Kate & Harry
Episodes 4 to 7
Airdate — 3 to 8 May
Description — Teams head to Kate & Harry's home in Adelaide, South Australia for the second renovation. One of the bedrooms belong to their 2 year old son, Xavier
Previous winner's advantage: Aaron & Daniella — Allocating the zones for themselves and all other teams.
Previous loser's disadvantage: Andrew & Jono — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
Renovation 2
Adelaide, South Australia
House Rules
Rule 1
Wow us with black and white boho
Rule 2
Keep it real with no faux
Rule 3
Place patterned tiles and turquoise in the family bathroom
*^2 Aaron & Daniella received the bonus room and decided to keep it. The bonus room was a Playroom for boys of all ages. Kate & Harry judged it as a fail and the couple lost 5 points, meaning their score of 21 dropped to 16 taking them from 4th place to bottom place.
*^3 Sean & Ella received the bonus room but decided not to keep it and gave it to Fiona & Nicole. The bonus room was a Hidden Study. Andrew & Jono judged it as a pass and the team received 5 bonus points, meaning their score of 18 rose to 23 taking them from bottom place to 4th place.
New South Wales: Troy & Bec
Episodes 12 to 15
Airdate — 16 to 22 May
Description — Teams head to Troy & Bec's home in Heckenberg, New South Wales for the fourth renovation. Two of the bedrooms belong to Bec's children; Hayley, 14 years old & Josh, 11 years old
Previous winner's advantage: Kate & Harry — Allocating the zones for themselves and all other teams.
Previous loser's disadvantage: Fiona & Nicole — Although Troy & Bec were the lowest scoring team in the previous week, they do not participate in the renovation of their own home, therefore the loser's tent was given to the second-lowest scorer.
Renovation 4
Heckenberg, New South Wales
House Rules
Rule 1
Create an ultra-modern castle to be proud of
Rule 2
Make a master suite fit for a king and queen
Rule 3
Wash the home with a watery colour palette
Rule 4
Celebrate Bec's love of V8s with unique pieces
Rule 5
Give "the coat hanger" pride of place in the lounge
Bonus Room Rule
Use Kim Kardashian as inspiration for 14 year-old Hayley's bedroom
Team
Zone
Scores
Total (out of 40)
Running Total (Reno 1 to 4)
Homeowner
Drew
Laurence
Wendy
Aaron & Daniella
Dining Room & Laundry
9
7
8
7
31
102 / 160
Andrew & Jono
Master Bedroom & Kitchen
6
7
7
8
28
71 / 120
Sean & Ella
Josh's Bedroom & Ensuite
2
7
7
9
25
107 / 160
Fiona & Nicole
Lounge Room & Walk-In Robe
4
4
6
6
20
61 / 120
Kate & Harry
Front Stairs, Entry, Hallway, Bathroom & Bonus Room
*^4 Kate & Harry received the bonus room and decided to keep it. The bonus room was Hayley's Bedroom. Troy & Bec judged it as a fail and the team lost 5 points, meaning their score of 21 dropped to 16 taking them from 4th place to bottom place.
Tasmania: Sean & Ella
Episodes 16 to 19
Airdate — 23 to 29 May
Description — Teams head to Sean & Ella's home in Hobart, Tasmania for the fifth renovation.
Previous winner's advantage: Aaron & Daniella — Allocating the zones for themselves and all other teams.
Previous loser's disadvantage: Kate & Harry — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
Renovation 5
Hobart, Tasmania
House Rules
Rule 1
Keep calm with an "industrial Scandi" home
Rule 2
Feature concrete and marble in the kitchen and bathroom
*^5 Aaron & Daniella received the bonus room but decided not to keep it and gave it to Troy & Bec. The bonus room was the Guest Bedroom. Sean & Ella judged it as a fail and the team lost 5 points, meaning their score of 25 dropped to 20 taking them from equal bottom place (with Fiona & Nicole) to bottom place.
Queensland: Aaron & Daniella
Episodes 20 to 23
Airdate — 30 May to 5 June
Description — Teams head to Aaron & Daniella's home in Gold Coast, Queensland for the sixth and final interior renovation. Two of the bedrooms belong to their children; Jaxon, 3 years old & Brooklyn, 8 months old. The lowest scoring team overall will be eliminated
Previous winner's advantage: Kate & Harry — Allocating the zones for themselves and all other teams.
Previous loser's disadvantage: Troy & Bec — Camping in a tent during the renovation.
Renovation 6
Gold Coast, Queensland
House Rules
Rule 1
Create a luxury tropical oasis
Rule 2
Brighten our lives with GC bling
Rule 3
Impress us with timber and wallpeper in every zone
*^6 Kate & Harry received the bonus room but decided not to keep it and gave it to Troy & Bec. The bonus room was a Gym. Aaron & Daniella judged it as a pass and the team gained bonus 5 points, meaning their score of 20 rose to 25 taking them from 5th place to 4th place, but their overall score had them eliminated.
Phase 2
24 Hour Fix-Up
Episode 24 & 25
Airdate — 6 & 11 June
Description — All teams head back to their own homes and must fix and redo one of the zones in 24 hours. Teams need to recreate the space/s to reflect their own style and also to impress the judges. All teams received the same set of five rules for the challenge. The lowest scoring team will be eliminated.
Renovation summary
24 Hour Fix-Up
House Rules
Rule 1
Choose one zone
Rule 2
Make this zone your own
Rule 3
Showcase your skills with a statement piece
Rule 4
Your budget is $5000
Rule 5
Stay together at all times
Team
Zone
Scores
Round Total (out of 30)
Drew
Laurence
Wendy
Andrew & Jono
Entry, Hallway & Bar
9
9
10
28
Sean & Ella
Lounge Room & Hallway
7
7
7
21
Aaron & Daniella
Entry, Master Bedroom & Jaxon's Bedroom
7
5
8
20
Kate & Harry
Lounge Room & Laundry
6
5
7
18
Fiona & Nicole
Laundry, Hallway & Keanan's Bedroom
5
6
6
17
Phase 3: Gardens & Exteriors
The top four teams are challenged to transform the exteriors and gardens of each other's homes. Two teams are allocated to a home (that do not belong to them) and must renovate either the front or back yards, as well as improving the house exterior. They are held over two rounds, covering all houses of the current teams. After both rounds are complete, the lowest scoring team is eliminated.
Round 1
Episodes 26 & 28
Airdate — 12 & 18 June
Description — In round 1 of the exterior renovations, the 4 remaining teams head to the Gold Coast and Hobart to transform the gardens and house exterior in 4 Days. Teams are allocated to the front or back yard of either Aaron & Daniella's or Sean & Ella's
Renovation summary
Round 1
House Rules
Aaron & Daniella's (QLD)
Sean & Ella's (TAS)
Rule 1
Make every day a holiday with a tropical resort garden
Keep it simple with a no fuss Scandi garden
Rule 2
Pimp our pool area
Make the most of the view with an entertainers' deck
Rule 3
Go OTT with GC style at the entry
Give us an edible garden out the back
Rule 4
Be playful with a space for our boys out the back
Warm us up with a fire pit out the front
Rule 5
Choose your zone: front or back
Team
House
Zone
Scores
Total (out of 30)
Running Total (Round 1)
Drew
Laurence
Wendy
Aaron & Daniella
Sean & Ella's (Hobart, TAS)
Frontyard - Driveway, Fire Pit & Upper and Lower Deck
*^7 During the renovation at Aaron & Daniella's House, the clock was stopped and the teams and crew had to leave the house due to the weather conditions caused by Cyclone Debbie.
Round 2
Episodes 29 & 30
Airdate — 19 & 25 June
Description — In round 2 of the exterior renovations, the 4 remaining teams head to Mandurah and Adelaide to transform the gardens and house exterior in 4 Days. Teams are allocated to the front or back yard of either Andrew & Jono's or Kate & Harry's house. The lowest scoring team overall is eliminated.
Frontyard - Driveway, Entry, Play Area & Vertical Garden
5
6
7
18
4th (35)
Phase 4
Charity Unit Makeover
Episodes 31 to 34
Airdate — 26 June to 4 July
Description — The 3 remaining teams have 7 days to renovate 3 units in The Bezzina House in St George, Sydney where cancer patients stay during treatment. The teams are given a unit each and they must follow the rules that are, for the first time, given by the judges', each team are only given one judges' rules to follow. Each team must also renovate a zone in the Common Area. The lowest-scoring team will be eliminated & the top 2 will advance into the live Grand Final.
Previous winner's advantage: Kate & Harry — Allocating a judges' rules to each of the teams and themselves
Renovation summary
Charity Unit Makeover
Drew's Rules
Rule 1
Get back to nature with 'easy modern' style
Rule 2
Be inspired by the colours of sunsets
Rule 3
In every room make one thing do two things
Laurence's Rules
Rule 1
Charm me with neoclassical style
Rule 2
Colour with coral, paprika, silver and mother of pearl
Rule 3
Indulge my love of antiques and taxidermy
Wendy's Rules
Rule 1
Bring back the best of art deco
Rule 2
Mix indigo and emerald tones
Rule 3
Create spaces for quiet moments of private healing
*^8 Each team had to submit a statement piece to be judged, the winners were Kate & Harry who received 1 bonus point which will go towards their total score
Grand Final
Episode 35
Airdate — 9 July
Description — The final 2 teams complete one final challenge at their opponent's home. This will be the first season to not have a live Grand Final and the winners of will only be decided by the judges' scores. The team that receives the highest score will win the season and receive $200,000.
aRatings data used is from OzTAM and represents the live and same day average viewership from the five largest Australian metropolitan centres (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide).