Along a suburban street in Australia's Top End, Sukhpreet Kaur's house stands out alongside a row of new project homes.

Unlike the others, it sits unfinished, with no roof, windows or doors, having been abandoned 18 months ago by its Darwin builder.

"When we bought this land, there were no houses built in the street," Ms Kaur said.

"But if you look around now, all the other houses have been built, and ours has been left this way.

Ms Kaur signed a contract in October 2021 with Kassiou Constructions, which promised to build her a four-bedroom house. 

After multiple delays, the company abandoned the construction site in March 2023, having not finished the frame stage — or stage two — of the build.

By that point, Ms Kaur had paid more than $134,000. Then, in May, she was asked to pay a further $62,000.

Ever since, her single-income family has been paying a mortgage on their partially-built house, plus rent on a home to live in.

Ms Kaur believes her best option, considering the home's derelict state, may be to knock it down and rebuild.

"Then we will have to start from scratch," she said.

"I think it will cost me $200,000 more now … to finish this house.

More projects abandoned

Jessica and Ryan Fuss have been living a similar nightmare.

They signed a contract with Kassiou Constructions in March 2022 and were promised their house would be built by Christmas that year.

By April 2023, after several delays, the Fusses received an invoice for 90 per cent completion.

"We looked around and there was no way [it was 90 per cent completed]," Jessica said.

Advised by their lawyer that they shouldn't pay the invoice, Jessica and Ryan hired an independent quantity surveyor to assess the build.

But when the couple mentioned the quantity surveyor to Kassiou Constructions, they say the company illegally terminated their contract for failure to pay.

After the contract had been terminated, the results of the audit were returned, finding the house was 68 per cent complete.

Jessica and Ryan subsequently chose to engage another builder to complete the home.

"It's cost a lot more money … probably close to $200,000," Jessica said.

'The system is not working'

Kassiou Constructions abandoned both construction sites in the first half of 2023, but the company's registration was renewed by the NT Building Practitioners Board (BPB) in December.

The renewal came with a few conditions, including that it finish five of its six projects in limbo.

This decision meant home owners — including Ms Kaur — weren't able to access the NT Fidelity Fund, a scheme designed to protect people against financial loss from defective work or non-completion. 

That is because home owners are only covered if their builder has died, disappeared, gone bankrupt or been suspended.

Kassiou Constructions' licence was eventually suspended in June this year after it failed to provide evidence of updated work on the five projects, including Ms Kaur's.

But she's still waiting to access the fidelity fund — a lengthy process which may take months — so she can finally finish her home.

"I still don't know how long it's going to take or when this will finish," she said.

Although the company's registration is now suspended, the personal registration of its co-director, Ilias Kassiou, is still active.

The board cancelled the registration of its other co-director and the company's majority owner, Louis Kassiou.

Ms Kaur and and the Fusses say they delt solely with Ilias Kassious during their home builds. 

Ilias Kassiou declined to comment when contacted by the ABC. Louis Kassiou was contacted for comment.

Company taken to court 

On Monday, the Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) announced it was taking legal action against both Kassiou Constructions and Ilias Kassiou.

The FWO is alleging the company did not pay out a long-term employee for the accrued annual leave he was owed at the end of his employment.

Records obtained by the ABC show that since 2020, 14 other cases against Kassiou Constructions have gone before NT courts.

They include claims from suppliers, subcontractors and clients like Jessica and Ryan Fuss.

The couple are pursuing financial compensation, but the nightmare has also left a psychological toll.

"The stress – I can't even begin to tell you," Jessica said.