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In short:
A credit check has revealed that Perth home builder Nicheliving owes the tax office $3,813,837.
A number of sub-contractors are also taking legal action against the troubled company for unpaid bills.
What's next?
WA Premier Roger Cook said the situation with Nicheliving was "very concerning" and the government was taking a close interest in company.
A credit check has revealed that Perth home builder Nicheliving has been issued a default notice by the Australian Taxation Office, for $3,813,837.
The troubled builder notified the state government last week that it has 236 homes still to be finished, leaving many of its customers in financial distress and close to homelessness, with many homes years past their scheduled completion dates.
The state government has also revealed there have been 73 official complaints made to the building commissioner about the company since January 2022.
The Equifax credit report also details three sub-contractors that have also taken legal action against the company, including a flooring company owed $41,844, and two site security companies owed $26,063 and $3,652.
Commerce Minister Sue Ellery told ABC Radio Perth that Nicheliving directors assured her in a meeting on June 18 that the company was financially sound.
Nicheliving managing directors Ronnie Michel-Elhaj and Paul Bitdorf have been contacted for comment.
In a statement, a company spokesperson said "Nicheliving is compliant with ATO requirements".
'A very grave situation': Premier
WA premier Roger Cook said the revelations about Nicheliving's debt to the ATO and others were "very concerning".
"That's why [Commerce Minister] Sue Ellery is spending so much time at the moment working with Nicheliving and her department to make sure that we have every measure in place to assist those people to get their homes built," Mr Cook said.
"It's a very grave situation."
Mr Cook said the government was still hoping to work with the company to get the homes finished, without having to step in directly to rescue the company and complete the building projects.
"We have a range of measures at our disposal that we can continue to look at in terms of alleviating this situation," he said.
"We need to continue to look at all those measures.
"My fervent hope is that Nicheliving get on and finish those properties, and we're working with them to see if that is at all possible."
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