Grieving widow who was pregnant when Bankwest auctioned off her house - is left in tears as strangers turn her new 'lemon' property into her dream home
- Stephanie Stevens was three months pregnant when her husband Ryan died
- They had a four-bedroom home together but the mortgage was in his name
- As he had no will, she was frozen out by Bankwest, which repossessed the home
- After the home was sold, Ms Stevens rushed to buy a home but it had issues
- Strangers spent two weeks transforming the new property into a dream home
A grieving mother who lost her house when her husband died without leaving a will broke down in tears after strangers transformed her 'lemon' property into a dream home.
Stephanie Stevens rushed to buy a new property after she was made homeless when her husband Ryan died in a quad bike accident in Western Australia.
The couple had been renovating their Perth home but the mortgage was in her late husband's name and since he did not leave a will, Ms Stevens was frozen out by Bankwest.
After being forced to buy a new home quickly Ms Stevens found the new property was riddled with asbestos and had a leaking roof.
On hearing Ms Stevens' tragic story contestants from The Block jumped in to help with the two-week project, completely transforming the dilapidated house into a modern home.
The newly renovated property now features a playroom, new kitchen with a butlers pantry and a luxury en-suite.
After sharing her story strangers rallied up support to help transform the 'lemon property' into her dream home
The newly renovated home now features a playroom, new kitchen with a butlers pantry and a luxury en-suite
Ms Stevens broke down in tears when she took her first steps inside the home.
'This is so much better than I ever could’ve done,' she told A Current Affair.
'This is our dream home…I can’t wait to start out new life here.
'Everyone has been so nice and so generous, it just really gives you faith.'
Ms Steven's tragic story first came to light after the State Government was left in charge of dealing with Mr Stevens' estate.
By the time his life insurance and superannuation was sorted it was too late. The property was repossessed and sold.
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Desperate for a home for her newborn son Ollie, Ms Stevens was quick to purchase a property that fit her price range.
But she later discovered the home had a number of problems and she was forced to move back in with her parents.
After sharing her story as a warning to others about getting the importance of a will, strangers rallied up support to help transform the 'lemon property' into her dream home.
Desperate for a home for her newborn Ollie, Ms Stevens was quick to purchase a property that fit her price range
But she later discovered the home was riddled with asbestos and had a leaking roof
Stephanie Stevens broken down in tears when she walked into her newly renovated home
Stephanie Stevens battle with Bankwest after her husband's death:
Stephanie Stevens was three months pregnant with the couple's first child, Ollie, when her husband Ryan died while riding his quad bike in Western Australia.
The mortgage for their four-bedroom home was in her late husband's name and, since he did not leave a will, Ms Stevens was frozen out by Bankwest.
Without a valid will, the State Government was left in charge of dealing with Mr Stevens' estate.
Mrs Stevens had to wait for Mr Stevens' life insurance and superannuation to be sorted out.
It took five long months before she was named as her husband's beneficiary.
In that time the monthly mortgage repayments had gone unpaid, and Mr Stevens' life insurance was short $30,000 to cover the mortgage.
She said the bank had let interest accrue and added legal and administration fees.
Her parents stepped up to be guarantors for the mortgage and offered to cover the $30,000 shortfall - but the bank rejected this.
Bankwest repossessed the home, auctioning it off for $100,000 less than the $520,000 the couple had bought it for five years earlier.
Stephanie Stevens has slammed Bankwest as 'vultures' after they repossessed and sold her family home while she was fighting to become her late husband's beneficiary
The bank sold the home for $70,000 less than the loan owed, but would have been able to claim that amount back on insurance.
Bankwest said in a statement: 'We acknowledge that the level of support Mrs Stevens experienced from Bankwest fell short of her expectations during a very distressing period of her life, and we apologise for this.
'We are lifting our standards of customer care, especially for customers with complex or sensitive needs, to ensure they receive better and more personalised support, now and in the future.'
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