The owner, who didn't want his name used, bought the house at auction, and said he had been through an open house before and on the day of the sale and after. The agent had not mentioned the Fluffy status of the home, and he had not been told during conveyancing, he said. The first he had heard of it was when he engaged a builder to assess a rebuild, and the builder had come back with the news. He had then Googled Mr Fluffy and discovered just what he had bought.

The Canberra Times has reported residents' concerns about the auction and open homes, where families had been allowed through the derelict house without being told it was Mr Fluffy, and where the status of the home had not been disclosed at the auction until it was raised by a bidder.

But the owner said the other bidder had raised a general question of asbestos in the home, the issue had been largely dismissed by the auctioneer, and he had simply assumed that it was like most old homes which contained some form of asbestos.

The agent told The Canberra Times proper disclosure had been made through house contracts. But the owner said the agent had this week denied any knowledge of it being a Fluffy home. The owner said he had seen the 1992 removal certificate for loose-fill insulation but knew nothing of the Fluffy issue.

He was devastated, having planned to move into and redevelop the house with his family. He had paid more than land value, and was now struggling with a $650,000 mortgage plus rent, unable to move into the house and facing a bill to remove the asbestos of more than $51,000. He was pushing ahead to have the house demolished, reassured by Government promises that he would not be disadvantaged in any mass demolition scheme, because he could not afford to continue paying the mortgage on an empty house. He had also received support through the Government package and joined the Fluffy Residents and Owners Action Group.

Neighbours say during an open home a hole had stood open to the ceiling, exposing the white paint on the beams characteristic of Fluffy homes, which were sealed with white paint after the clean-up program of 20 years ago.

Work Safety Commissioner Mark McCabe said was "totally inadvisable" to have open homes for Mr Fluffy houses.

Sales of Fluffy houses have continued since owners were alerted to loose-fill asbestos in their homes in February, with at least 22 sold in the months since, and controversy about whether the new owners are aware of what they're buying. The Real Estate Institute has repeatedly urged agents to fully disclose the Mr Fluffy status of homes, and in June, the asbestos taskforce met with the industry to stress the obligation.