The 34-year-old and his wife are both shift workers and, without family in Australia, juggle the care of their young daughter.

"It was our first house and we are new in Australia, I arrived here in 2007," he said. "I drive for Action as a bus driver."

Mr Singh entered into a contract with D's Homes to build a home in Jacka for $300,000 and to date has paid $270,000 to director Raman Dixit towards the build.

He was reduced to tears recounting the story of the extended rental of an apartment from Mr Dixit, due to his family having nowhere else to live.

"I just trusted him," he said. "Delays happened, but it was too much delay."

Mr Singh paid rent from January to March 2014 but come June he confronted Mr Dixit about the lack of progress on his home.

"I told him I paid all the money upfront, paid for the kitchen and there was no excuse to stop work," he said.

"I waited until the end of October in the hope he would finish my house, and then I started to pay people from my pocket to complete it."

Mr Dixit said there were only minor delays of no more than three weeks, and Mr Singh had not paid the second-last instalment requested in August.

He now seeks $10,000 from Mr Singh under the building contract, and another $9500 in unpaid rent.

The Singh family moved into the incomplete home in December last year and are still working to finalise the property and secure a certificate of occupancy.