The first season of Australian reality television series House Rules, also known as House Rules 2013, was commissioned in 2012 and began airing on 14 May 2013. The series is produced by the team who created the Seven reality show My Kitchen Rules and is hosted by Johanna Griggs.
House Rules places six teams renovating each other's homes and further challenges for the ultimate prize of a full mortgage payment.
Contestant Teams
This season of House Rules introduced six new teams. All teams are from different states in Australia.
Elimination history
Competition Details
Phase 1: Interior Renovation
For the interior renovation round, all 6 teams had their homes transformed by each other through a rotation round format over a course of 6 weeks. At the end of each renovation, the highest scoring team received an advantage for the next renovation, and lowest scoring receiving a disadvantage. At the end, all scores were tallied up and the team with lowest overall total was eliminated from the competition.
Western Australia: Jemma & Ben
Episodes 1 to 4
Airdate — 14 to 20 May 2013
Description — Teams head to the first renovation at Jemma & Ben's 1950s home in Perth, Western Australia.
Tasmania: Jane & Plinio
Episodes 5 to 8
Airdate — 21 to 27 May 2013
Description — Teams head off to the second renovation at Jane & Plinio's 1930s home in Hobart, Tasmania. Two bedrooms belong to their children Jarra, 16 years old & Nina, eight years old. Previous winner's advantage: Carly & Leighton — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Amy & Sean — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
Victoria: Nick & Chris
Episodes 9 to 12
Airdate — 28 May to 3 June 2013
Description — Teams travel to Nick & Chris's 1970s home in Melbourne, Victoria for the third renovation. Previous winner's advantage: Amy & Sean — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Jemma & Ben — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
South Australia: Carly & Leighton
Episodes 13 to 16
Airdate — 4 to 10 June 2013
Description — Teams head to Carly & Leighton's 1950s home in Adelaide, South Australia for the fourth renovation. Previous winner's advantage: Jemma & Ben — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Michelle & Steve — Although Carly & Leighton were the lowest scoring team in the previous week, they do not participate in the renovation of their own home and because Jemma and Ben got the highest score they got to choose who went into the tent and they chose Michelle and Steve.
Queensland: Amy & Sean
Episodes 17 to 20
Airdate — 11 to 17 June 2013
Description — Teams travel to Brisbane, Queensland to renovate Amy & Sean's 1950s home for the fifth renovation. Previous winner's advantage: Jemma & Ben — They got to decide on which zone they wanted to renovate Previous loser's disadvantage: Jane & Plinio — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
New South Wales: Michelle & Steve
Episodes 21 to 24
Airdate — 18 to 24 June 2013
Description — Teams travel to Sydney, New South Wales to renovate Michelle & Steve's 1950s family home in the sixth and final interior renovation. Two bedrooms belong to their children; daughter Alex, 20 years old & son Jesse, 18 years old. The lowest scoring team overall will be eliminated. Previous winner's advantage: None - Michelle & Steve came first in the last renovation, but due to this renovation being their home they are not involved in the renovation, therefore there is no winner advantage. Previous loser's disadvantage: Nick & Chris — Camping in the back yard in a tent during the renovation.
Phase 2: 24 Hour Fix-Up
Episode 25
Airdate — 25 June 2013
Description — Each team returned to their own home and had to re-invent one of the zones in 24 hours. Teams must stick to a budget of $5000 and must stay together at all times. The lowest scoring team will be eliminated.