Perth house relocator leaves trail of clients, contractors claiming he owes millions

The 35-year-old’s house relocation business is booming as people jump at the chance to snap up a “pre-loved” home transported to them on the back of a truck, with the added bonus of development plans, council approvals, renovations, additions, site earthworks and plumbing installation.

However, Thomson is now being accused by a growing list of people who claim he has not honoured contracts, takes deposits without supplying them with a house, owes contractors pay for work, and hotels for accommodation and food.

Aggrieved clients claim he owes dozens of people across the state as much as $4-6 million.

But with Thomson still running his business, Perth House Relocators, and clients still allegedly heavily out of pocket, they are now banding together to take legal action as a group after being told by police their concerns were a civil matter.

In a letter sent to this masthead after the allegations were put to him, Thomson categorically denied any intention to withhold rightful payments, and said his company was “committed to resolving all legitimate claims promptly and transparently”.

“In regards to ongoing breaches of contracts [by clients], we could supply you with the breach notices for each claim/client which will spread transparency on the issue,” the letter read.

Joshua Aylett is pursuing Thomson for more than $120,000. The mine services technician from Margaret River says he has been forced to sell his primary residence after paying Thomson for a house he allegedly never received.

Aylett later found out the property had been demolished. After contacting Thomson, he claims the business owner took responsibility for the issue and offered him the option of what he told him were two comparable homes.

“Nothing like I already had plans drawn up for. The contract options are ‘like for like’, so I said cancel the contract and return my money.”

In response to questions from this masthead, Thomson said the house was destroyed illegally without his knowledge, and he was claiming on his insurance to pay Aylett back.

But after being told by police it was a civil matter, and by a lawyer that the cost to reclaim his funds would be substantial, Aylett took matters into his own hands and confronted Thomson at a worksite in Bridgetown.

That incident resulted in Thomson being arrested and charged with dangerous driving, no authority to drive, possessing a controlled weapon, endangering the life, health and safety of a person, and cause poison to be administered.

Aylett alleged that Thomson tailgated him for 40 kilometres to Nannup, T-boned his car and peppe