The seventh season of Australian reality television series House Rules began airing on 28 April 2019. The series is produced by the team who created the Seven reality show My Kitchen Rules. This is Johanna Griggs final season as host.

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. Season 7 was officially confirmed in October 2018, as well with the announcement of new judge, Jamie Durie, who replaces Drew Heath. Production for the series began in November 2018.

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.

Contestant Teams

Team Ages House Relationship Status 1 Pete & Courtney 32 & 31 Ferntree Gully, VIC Married Dance Teachers Winners 2 Tim Clark & Mat Cassim 32 & 27 Melbourne, VIC Melbourne Brothers Runners-up 3 Lisa & Andy Carman 30 & 32 Adelaide, SA Hostie & Fireman Third Place 4 Shayn & Carly Clark 33 & 31 Aroona, QLD Sunny Coast Couple Eliminated(Phase 3: Garden & Exteriors) 5 Katie & Alex Middlemiss 29 & 32 Gundaroo, NSW Small Town Parents Eliminated(Phase 2: Give Back House) 6 Mikaela & Eliza Greene 24 & 21 Yallingup, WA Surfer Sisters Eliminated(Phase 1: Interior Renovation)

Elimination history + Teams' progress through the competitionPhase: WHA Interior Renovation (Phase 2) Phase 3 VIC SA WA VIC QLD NSW Round Total Round Total Luxury Loft Team Scores Round Total Scores Round Total Final Result Pete & Courtney 18 27 27 33 33 32 4th(170) =2nd(23) 2535 33 2nd(93) 29 Winners Tim & Mat 20 29 33 31 34 41 1st(188) 4th(22) 36 28 40 1st(104) 27 Runners-up Lisa & Andy 15 29 26 28 29 30 5th(157) 1st(25) 30 36 25 3rd(91) 26 Third Place Shayn & Carly 21 24 31 35 33 34 2nd(178) =2nd(23) 29 31 25 4th(85) colspan=9 (Episode 41) Katie & Alex 20 35 34 30 21 33 3rd(173) 5th(19) colspan=9 (Episode 29) Mikaela & Eliza 22 26 25 2227 31 6th(153) colspan=9 (Episode 26)

Competition Details

Phase 1: Warehouse Apartment

Episode 1 & 2 Airdate — 28 & 29 April 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 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Jamie Laurence Wendy 8 7 7 22 / 30 7 8 6 21 21 / 30 7 8 5 20 20 / 30 8 6 6 20 20 / 30 6 6 6 18 18 / 30 5 5 5 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 renovation Previous loser's disadvantage: Lisa & Andy — Camping in a tent during the renovation.

+ Renovation 1 Ferntree Gully, Victoria House Rules Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Homeowner Jamie Laurence Wendy 10 8 9 8 55 / 70 8 7 7 7 29 49 / 70 6 6 6 6 44 / 70 7 6 7 6 26 48 / 70 8 5 6 5 45 / 70 colspan="6" 18 / 30

Notes * 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 renovation Previous loser's disadvantage: Shayn & Carly — Camping in a tent during the renovation.

+ Renovation 2 Adelaide, South Australia House Rules Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Homeowner Jamie Laurence Wendy 8 7 7 7 89 / 110 8 8 9 8 33 82 / 110 10 7 7 7 31 76 / 110 6 7 7 7 27 45 / 70 7 6 6 6 73 / 110 colspan="6" 44 / 70 Notes * 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 renovation 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 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Homeowner Jamie Laurence Wendy 9 7 7 7 111 / 150 8 8 7 8 31 113 / 150 10 7 7 6 30 119 / 150 6 7 7 7 27 72 / 110 7 6 6 7 70 / 110 colspan="6" 73 / 110 Notes * 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 renovation 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.

+ Renovation 4 Melbourne, Victoria House Rules Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Homeowner Jamie Laurence Wendy 7 9 8 9 144 / 190 10 8 7 8 105 / 150 7 6 3 7 98 / 150 7 6 3 6 22 95 / 150 7 6 3 5 140 / 190 colspan="6" 113 / 150 Notes * 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 renovation Previous loser's disadvantage: Katie & Alex — Camping in a tent during the renovation.

+ Renovation 5 Aroona, Queensland House Rules Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Homeowner Jamie Laurence Wendy 10 9 6 9 147 / 190 9 7 9 8 33 173 / 230 8 7 6 7 138 / 190 7 7 8 7 29 127 / 190 6 7 8 6 122 / 190 colspan="6" 144 / 190 Notes * 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 renovation Previous loser's disadvantage: Mikaela & Eliza — Camping in a tent during the renovation.

+ Renovation 6 Gundaroo, New South Wales House Rules Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Team Zone Scores Homeowner Jamie Laurence Wendy 10 9 9 8 1st (188) 8 8 9 9 34 2nd (178) colspan="6" 3rd (173) 9 7 9 7 32 4th (170) 9 7 7 7 5th (157) 8 7 8 8 31 6th (153) Notes * 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 Room & a personal driver

+ Renovation summary Give Back House House Rules Rule 1 Rule 2 Rule 3 Rule 4 Rule 5 Bonus Room Rule Team Zone Scores Jamie Laurence Wendy 8 8 9 7 8 8 23 7 9 7 23 6 5 6 6 6 7

Notes

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 Room