House Rules is an Australian reality television series broadcast on the Seven Network. The series follows state-based teams of two who renovate each other's homes, with the team receiving the highest score winning an ultimate prize. The series is produced by the team who created the Seven reality show My Kitchen Rules.
House Rules premiered on 14 April 2013 and steadily gained viewers throughout its first season. The show's eighth season premiered on 6 April 2020. Seven did not renew the series for a ninth season at their annual upfronts in October 2020, however suggested the show may return in future.
In October 2021, during Seven's annual upfronts, it was announced a spin-off series, titled Apartment Rules, would originally air in 2022, As of June 2025, the series never went into production. In 2026, a new renovation show using the Rules branding, titled My Reno Rules was announced, with Chris Brown announced as host.
Format Paired teams (mostly couples) from different states complete rounds of renovations in homes and gardens in a competition to win an ultimate prize. All homes that belong to the contestants are transformed throughout the show.
Format changes
In season 2, Jim Fogarty (judge of the garden rounds in season 1), did not return as Wendy Moore and Joe Snell took over the garden rounds judging. In season 5, two new judges were introduced, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and Drew Heath, who both joined Wendy Moore as judges. Judge of seasons 1–4, Joe Snell, did not return. In season 7, Jamie Durie replaced Drew Heath as a new judge. In season 8, Jamie Durie replaced Joh Griggs as series host alongside a new co-host, Abbey Gelmi, Kyly Clarke, and Saul Myers joined Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen as new series judges.
For seasons 1–4, the ultimate prize was having their mortgage paid off. In season 5, the winning team received $200,000. In season 6, the amount of prize money was decided by the first challenge during which the contestants renovated a house which was sold at auction. The $355,000 profit became the prize money. In season 7, the winning contestants won $250,000. In season 8, the winning contestants won $100,000.
The Grand Finals of seasons 1–4, were televised live with the winners decided by a combination of the judges' scores and the viewers' vote. Since season 5, there has not been a Live Grand Final: the team that received highest score from the judges won the series.
Hosts and judges + Timeline of hosts, judges, and other personnel Hosts Seasons 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Carolyn Burn-McCrave colspan="8" Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen colspan="4" colspan=4 Jamie Durie colspan="6" Abbey Way colspan="7" Kyly Clarke colspan="7" Saul Myers colspan="7" Johanna Griggs colspan="7" Wendy Moore colspan="7" Joe Snell colspan="4" colspan=4 Chester Drife colspan="2" colspan="6" style="text-align:center" Jim Fogarty colspan="1" colspan="7" Drew Heath colspan="4" colspan=2 colspan=2
Judges At the end of each renovation, the judges review every zone in the house and score each team out of 10 for their efforts. From season 2, judges verdicts were delivered face to face in front of the contestants.
Judge Occupation Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen International Design Stylist Kyly Clarke Interior Designer Season 8 Saul Myers Home Builder Season 8 Jim Fogarty Garden Judge Season 1 Joe Snell Architect/Designer Season 1–4 Drew Heath Architect Wendy Moore Editor of 'Home Beautiful' magazine Jamie Durie Landscaper
Experts The role of the experts is to assist and guide the contestants throughout each renovation. They need to make sure the house construction and design flows and also settle any disputes between teams.
Expert Occupation CarolynBurns-McCrave Interior Designer Season 1–8 Chester Drife Build Supervisor
Series details Season Title Episodes Originally aired Result Season premiere Season finale Winning team Prize House Rules 2013 28 Carly Schulz & Leighton Brow Full Mortgage Payment House Rules 2014 37 Adam Dovile & Lisa Lamond House Rules 2015 39 Steve & Tiana Falzon Crowded House Rules 35 Luke & Cody Cook House Rules 2017 35 Aaron & Daniella Winter $200,000 House Rules 2018 46 Toad Heffernan & Mandy Stone $355,000 House Rules 2019 43 Pete & Courtney Tserbis $250,000 High Stakes 30 Kimmy & Rhi Harris $100,000
Season Premiere date Finale date Winners Runners-up Other competing teams (elimination order) 1 14 May 2013 1 July 2013 Carly Schulz & Leighton Brow (SA) Michelle & Steve Ball (NSW) Jane Polley & Plinio Taurian (TAS) Amy Garrett & Sean Cornish (QLD) Jemma Blenkinsop & Ben Van Ryt (WA)Nick & Chris Stavropoulos (VIC) 2 30 April 2014 6 July 2014 Adam Dovile & Lisa Lamond (VIC) Carole & Russell Bramston (WA) Brooke Strong & Grant Lovekin (TAS) Michael 'Bomber' Bamford & Mel Chatfield (SA)Maddi Carter & Lloyd Wright (QLD) Candy Stuart & Ryan Pusic (NSW) 3 5 May 2015 20 July 2015 Steve & Tiana Falzon(NSW) Ben & Danielle Edgeworth(QLD) Karina & Brian Day (WA)Cassie Allan & Matt Smith (TAS) Ryan Rebbeck & Marlee Murphy (SA)Bronik Davies & Corrine Ziemer (VIC) 4 27 April 2016 3 July 2016Luke & Cody Cook (QLD)Claire Lintzeris & Hagan Rice (VIC) Rose & Rob Plater (WA)Nancy & Daniel Frilay (NSW)Brooke & Michelle Fogden (SA)Fil & Joe (VIC) 5 30 April 2017 9 July 2017 Aaron & Daniella Winter (QLD) Kate Whiting & James "Harry" Harris (SA) Troy Campbell & Bec Herning (NSW)Fiona Taylor & Nicole Prince (VIC)Sean Mackay & Ella Cuthbert (TAS)Andrew & Jono King (WA) 6 7 May 2018 30 July 2018 Toad Heffernan & Amanda "Mandy" Stone (NSW) Mel & Dave Wilmott (QLD) Leigh & Kristie Treeby (VIC) Kim & Michelle (NSW) Josh & Brandon Jarius (QLD) Jared Petrenko & Jessica Dover (SA)Chiara & David Clarson (WA) 7 28 April 2019 23 July 2019 Pete Tserbis & Courtney Reardon (VIC) Tim Clark & Mat Cassim (VIC)Mikaela & Eliza Greene (WA)Katie & Alex Middlemiss (NSW)Shayn & Carly Clark (QLD)Lisa & Andy Carman (SA) 8 6 April 2020 7 June 2020 Kimmy & Rhi Harris (TAS) Kayne & Aimee Stanton (VIC) Carly & Andrew (QLD)Susan & Anthony (VIC)Tanya & Dave Dawes (WA) Lenore McDermid & Bradley McLennan (NSW) Tamara Grant & Rhys Bennett (QLD) Laith Abu-Ali & George Batarseh (NSW)
Renovation Phases
Seasons 1–5
Phase 1: Interior Renovation The six teams travelled around the country to completely renovate each other's homes. Every week, one team handed over their house to their opponents for a complete interior transformation. A set of rules from the owners were provided to the teams known as the 'House Rules' which needed to be followed to gain high scores from the judges and the homeowner team. At the end of the interior renovations, one team was eliminated.
Phase 2: 24 Hour Fix-up After the first six full house interior renovations, all teams returned to their own homes and renovated a nominated zone or zones within 24 hours. Teams needed to recreate the space/s to reflect their own style and to impress the judges. All teams received the same set of five rules for the challenge. Scores were added to the current totals, with the lowest scoring team overall eliminated.
Phase 3: Gardens & Exteriors
The top 4 teams were challenged to transform the exteriors and gardens of each other's homes. Two teams were allocated to a home (that did not belong to them) and renovated either the front or back yards, while also improving the exterior of the house. After both rounds were completed, the lowest scoring team was eliminated.
Phase 4: Charity House
Starting in season 2, the top three teams renovated an old charity house. The rules for this challenge were very similar to the first interior renovations, where each team renovated zone allocated through a random card draw. The two highest scoring teams advanced to the Grand Final and one team was eliminated.
Grand Final: Final Renovations & Australia's Vote The final 2 teams completed one final challenge to renovate an additional room of their opponent's homes. The Australian public voted for their favourite team to win with the winner decided by a combination of the judges' scores for the final project and overall viewer votes. The team with the highest score won the season, which was announced live.
Season 6
Phase 1: Auction House
The teams had seven days to renovate a house which was auctioned. Any profit they from that auction became the prize money for this season. In addition, the teams had to follow the rules given by the judges. No team was eliminated during this phase of the competition.
Phase 2: Interior Renovation The seven teams travelled around the country to completely renovate each other's homes. Every week, one team handed over their house to their opponents for a complete interior transformation. A set of 'House Rules' from the owners were provided to the teams and needed to be followed to high scores from the judges and the homeowner team. One team was eliminated following the interior renovations.
Phase 3: Back Yards
The remaining 6 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 three rounds, covering all houses of the current teams. After all three rounds are complete, the 3 lowest scoring teams are eliminated.
Phase 4: Give back round (semi final)
The three remaining teams have four days to renovate the entire house of a potential contestant that had some bad luck thrown their way. The lowest scoring team is eliminated. The remaining two teams are put through to the Grand Final.
Grand Final (front yards)
The two remaining teams had to renovate each other's front yard, the team that received the highest score from the judges were crowned the series winners.
Season 7
Phase 1: Warehouse Apartment
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.
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. One team was eliminated following the interior renovations.
Phase 3: Give Back House
The five remaining teams had to renovate the entire house of a potential contestant that had some bad luck thrown their way. The lowest scoring team is eliminated.
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. The remaining three teams are put through to the Grand Final.
Grand Final
The final three teams have 7 days to renovate a loft apartment. The team that receives the highest score won the season.
Season 8
Elimination rounds
The season began with eight teams, however over two rounds, two teams were eliminated. Each round consist of renovating one half of a Gold Coast Penthouse per round, the lowest scoring team from each round will be eliminated whilst the other six will receive a spot in the competition.
Interior Renovation