Leah Milton told Yahoo Lifestyle that she thinks The Block needs to make ‘massive changes’ to fix the show.

Former Block contestant Leah Milton Leah Milton has slammed the show after two teams had their properties passed in at the auction this year. Photo: Instagram/ Nine

The Block finale left viewers threatening to boycott the series after two teams made no money when their houses were passed in at auction this year. The homes failed to reach what some have described as unreasonable reserve prices set by Channel 9.

Leah Milton competed on the show with her husband, Ash, in 2023 and told Yahoo Lifestyle she knows the pain of having a property fail to sell at auction. She has slammed Channel 9 for “completely losing touch” with how The Block measures success, leaving some contestants “in crippling debt or financial stress”.

“It becomes a sad reality for many that you leave empty handed or in a severe loss (of more than just money),” Leah said.

“Don’t forget you have to still fund your entire life while on the show.”

The Queensland mum said that includes mortgages, school fees and insurances.

“The $100-a-day per person that the network pays you while filming barely covers your expenses while in Melbourne,” she said.

“So before you even begin swinging a hammer you need some decent savings.”

While Leah and Ash’s property failed to sell during the season finale, four months later it did, and the couple netted a profit of $155,000.

While they were all smiles ahead of the auction, Leah and Ash were left heartbroken when their property didn’t sell on the day. Photo: Nine

It was the third-highest of the year, but it was miles behind what winners Steph and Gian took home and runner-ups Eliza and Liberty’s earnings – $1.75 million and $1.05 million, respectively.

Leah said that she and Ash spent the time “wishing, dreaming and hoping” that the physical and mental toll would “be worth it”.

That the “thousands of horrendous online bullying, death threats, and crippling anxiety” would amount to a “big pay day”.

Leah claimed contestants were “blindly led” to believe the show is “only a three month commitment”.

She said they filmed for 12 weeks and then got to return home to Brisbane for six weeks.

But the short break made it “hard to get back into ‘work mode’,”.

Leah and Ash’s property was the only one to be passed in on auction day, but it was worth it as they ended up coming third with a profit of $155,000. Photo: Nine

Then it’s back on again.

“While it airs on TV you are back and forth to Melbourne for media events, open homes to suck up to potential buyers who magically disappear when auction day comes, the countless radio interviews, magazine interviews, it all takes time out of your normal working life,” she said.

“Everyone is usually crippling in debt or financial stress by the end of it.”

‘Not enjoyable to watch’: Demand for major change to The Block

This year, the blow was felt by Han and Can, along with Emma and Ben.

Bidders wouldn’t surpass the $2.99 million reserve price, which would have meant no, or minimal, profit.

Their homes were passed in with the hope they would sell after the show wrapped up.

Leah said it was “not enjoyable to watch any contestant walk away empty-handed or win very little”.

A Yahoo Lifestyle poll of more than 1,900 people found 72 per cent didn’t think they’d watch the show again after the “waste of time” ending.

Host Scott Cam appeared surprised that two properties were passed in this year. Photo: Nine

Just eight per cent said they’d continue watching.

Leah said the network need to make some “massive changes” to the program for viewers, and taking into consideration “the economic environment” contestants faced.

“Set realistic reserves, allow all public to have a shot at purchasing these homes and let the contestants have a serious crack at life-changing money,” she said.

“After all, it’s the contestants who line the pockets of the network with millions in profit, being used as pawns in a storyline to win ratings.”

Yahoo Lifestyle has reached out to Channel 9 for comment.

A Channel 9 spokesperson previously defended the reserves, which were “determined through a comprehensive valuation process”.

They said the process included the opinion of independent industry experts whose assessments are based on current market conditions and the intrinsic quality of the properties themselves.

“Each selling agent is also required to provide, by law, an indicative selling price contained in a Statement of Information during the campaign, which also includes details of comparable sales and the median price,” the Channel 9 spokesperson said.

“All indicative selling prices provided by the selling agents were $3 to $3.3 million.”

The former contestant said she does not want the network to continue relying on well-known cashed-up buyers like Danny Wallis and Adrian Portelli to purchase the homes.

Portelli was notably absent this year, starting a new renovation show on rival network Seven.

The season-ender was not well-received by many fans.

“This is heartbreaking,” one viewer wrote.

“What’s the point of even watching this show anymore, teams deserve better.”

“Absolutely disgraceful having the reserves so high in Daylesford,” another agreed.

“It’s an absolute fail.”

“What a truly massive let down overall,” a third added.

“The Block has run its race with these huge multi-million dollar properties.

Fans also praised Emma and Ben, as well as Han and Can, for holding their heads high and supporting the other teams that did walk away with a profit.