Revealed: My Reno Rules 2026 contestants

14 hours ago 2

Billionaire Adrian Portelli’s new property format has launched with a shocking look at the cost of living pain hitting his first group of contestants. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Adrian Portelli is used to dropping millions on property, but some Aussie battlers on his new renovation show are battling the cost of living crisis with just $65 left after bills are paid.

The former serial Block bidder and billionaire has teamed up with Dr Chris Brown for Seven’s My Reno Rules.

The new series is centred on everyday Australians renovating suburban Bulleen homes in a bid to take on The Block.

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Set across two rundown 1970s properties in Bulleen, the show flips the traditional renovation format with no auction payday.

Instead, the finished homes will be handed to viewers in a live finale giveaway, leaving contestants to fight through weekly room reveals, judging scores and twists that reshape the leaderboard for a $100,000 prize.

My Reno Rules host Dr Chris Brown said the stakes were immediate.

Billionaire Adrian Portelli’s new property format has launched with a shocking look at the cost of living pain hitting his first group of contestants. Picture: Seven/7Plus

“These contestants aren’t just renovating, they’re fighting for a better future,” Dr Brown said.

LMCT+ founder and show sponsor Adrian Portelli said the format was designed to create real opportunity.

“It gives everyday Aussies a chance at life changing outcomes,” he said.

Mitch and Shaz

Mitch and Shaz say they are living week to week, with just $65 left after bills as they compete on My Reno Rules. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Queenslanders Mitch and Shaz are at the centre of the show’s cost-of-living reality.

In the launch promo, Shaz said the family was living week to week, with just $65 left over for the fortnight after money hit their account and was split across bills and expenses.

The couple, who share 13-year-old son Lenny, said they had even been selling belongings and scouring thrift shops to bring in extra cash, turning the show into a shot at financial breathing room rather than a television opportunity.

The couple said “the cost of living [is] biting hard” and that giving their son Lenny everything he deserves is their “ultimate why”.

Mitch works as a landscape project manager, while Shaz runs her own interior design business, giving them a practical-creative split that could prove handy under pressure.
The pair described their team ethos simply: “If Shaz can dream it, Mitch can do it!”

Shaz said her style was “classic-contemporary”, while Mitch admitted he mostly trusted her eye.

Nathan and Julia

Nathan and Julia are chasing a $100k prize on My Reno Rules to wipe out debt and ease pressure on their young family. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Victorian couple Nathan and Julia are also chasing the $100,000, with three young daughters driving their push.

The pair say pair the win would be a “game-changer” for their family, with Nathan saying it would buy him the “most precious thing in life: less time spent working and more time with the kids”.

Julia said it would help wipe out debt and let her spend less time working “three jobs” and more time with her “beautiful babies”.

Nathan’s electrical background gives them a practical edge, while Julia has picked up multiple trades through past projects and says she does well under pressure.

“When things get crazy, I tend to get clearer and just work like crazy until the job is done,” she said.

Julia said their big advantage as a team was balance.

“Nathan is the practical, realistic one, and I’m the one who comes up with the big, sometimes wild ideas.”

Franky and Isaac

Franky and Isaac are hoping My Reno Rules will help them break into the property market amid tough conditions for first-home buyers. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Melbourne mates Franky and Isaac enter as underdogs, but with a clear goal: breaking into the property market.

The pair know what they lack in renovation experience, they will need to make up for in attitude, with a win potentially changing their fortunes and making home ownership possible.

Franky said he would love to buy a home where he could host “big fat Greek barbecue” for his family, while Isaac said the prize would help him and his fiancee buy a house and start a family young.

While they admit experience is not their strong suit, they say ability to read each other in stressful situations could help.

Isaac also conceded interior design and decision-making could be a challenge because he tends to overthink things.

Emma and Michelle

Emma and Michelle bring experience and a “luxe, bold and bougie” style to My Reno Rules as they compete for the top prize. Picture: Seven/7Plus

Queensland mother and daughter Emma and Michelle bring experience and confidence and are described fiery duo with an “unbreakable bond” and a style that is “luxe, bold and bougie”.

Emma runs her own interior design, property development and creative studio, while Michelle has been hands-on with multiple home builds over the years.

Emma said her game plan was simple: “plan, plan and plan”, while Michelle said she wanted to enjoy every day of the “once-in-a-lifetime situation”.

Emma also said one of her biggest weaknesses was staying under budget because she was a perfectionist who pushed for the best of everything.