House Rules contestants Rob and Rose Plater moved out of their home just months after it was renovated on the reality show, it can be revealed. Picture: Supplied

But controversial House Rules contestants Rob and Rose Plater have already abandoned their West Australian pad, right after it was made over by the Channel Seven reality show.

In tonight’s episode, in which the colourful retro renovation of their Rockingham property is revealed, there are several emotional references to the couple’s hopes of staying put.

“We want to create a home for our boys to grow up in,” Rob says on camera. “This is a place we want to stay in forever.”

But not long after uttering those words, a heartbreaking emergency on the other side of the country forced Rob, Rose and their kids to uproot their lives and move to Brisbane.

Rose’s elderly grandmother Patricia Peile fell ill in September last year, it can be revealed. It was just several weeks after tonight’s episode was filmed.

“She has Alzheimer’s and she had an accident at home,” Rose said. “It wasn’t a serious one as such but it was the final straw.

“I moved over in September and Rob and the boys followed about a month later.”

House Rules contestant Rose Plater with her mum Sue and grandmother Patricia in Brisbane. Picture: Jessica FaithfulSource:Supplied

The big move wasn’t as tough on David, eight, Sampson, six, and Teddy, two, as it might’ve been in other circumstances.

“The kids went over to Brisbane for four months while we did the show,” Rose said.

“They were staying with my parents during filming, they went to school here, which made the later move a bit easier. They kind of already did the transition.”
Family comes first and the Platers are now adjusting to their life in Brisbane’s outer western pocket of The Gap.

House Rules contestants Rose and Rob Plater with their sons (left to right) Teddy, Sampson and David. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

They’ve bought a new three-bedroom family home — a fixer upper, not far from the aged care facility where Rose’s nan now lives.

“She’s in an environment where she’s safe. My grandfather is an amazing, caring man … he’s moved in as a tenant as well so they’re together, he’s by her side.

“They had a similar life in their early married years of moving around Australia a lot for work, very similar to Rob and mine. I’ve always said to him that if we can still be holding hands at their age like they do, then we’ll be very lucky.”

From the start of the season, Rob emerged as a villain and has become known for his fiery outbursts and inflexible working style with other contestants.

However his softer side is now on show and he has assumed the primary carer role for the family.

Rob and Rose's new house in Brisbane. Picture: Harcourts/realestate.com.auSource:Supplied

Work on Rob and Rose's colourful master bedroom in Perth, the outcome of which is revealed in tonight’s episode of House Rules. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

The Navy lieutenant has taken extended leave to be more hands-on at home. After years of long stretches at sea, Rose said it’s a welcome change.

“Absolutely. He’s learning very fast how to be a parent, the primary caregiver, after being away for so long.”

Despite some of the more garish design elements — including “shagadelic” diagonal multicoloured bathroom tiles and a teal, orange and yellow retro feature wall — it was tough to walk away from their long-desired dream family home, she said.

“We love the house and we love Rockingham. We were there in the new house for such a short period and all of our friends came around and we got to see just how life-changing it was going to be. That’s what all the other teams got to experience.

“We need to find a truck we can put the house on and bring it over here.”

Rob is known as the villain of this season of House Rules but his softer side is on show at home, wife Rose says. Picture: SuppliedSource:Supplied

The family hopes to one day return to Perth to their very colourful abode.

“We’re not sure what we’ll do with that property in the long-term,” she said. “We may end up back in Rockingham one day on a Navy posting. We just don’t know.”

It’s understood Channel Seven has an understanding with show participants that they’ll remain in their newly renovated homes for a reasonable period of time after the show.

However a source said the network was satisfied the Platers’ circumstances were exceptional.

“House Rules gave us the opportunity to really assess our priorities,” Rose said. ”Being away from the Navy deployment life, we got to focus on the kind of family life we want to live.”

House Rules airs tonight at 7pm on Seven.