Anger at proposal

By CARALISE MOORE - Rodney Times

Rodney leaky home victims Paul and Wilna White say a proposal from Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson suggesting leaky homeowners pay 64 percent of repair costs is "laughable".

A paper circulated to city mayors shows the government is expecting soaring bills. The leaky building crisis this year was estimated to cost $6 billion to $11.5 billion.

The government expects to pay $777 million to victims in the next 20 years.

A possible new criteria the government is planning to set says it will pay out 10 percent, but only if victims pay 64 percent, and councils 26 percent.

The Whites of Army Bay cannot believe the suggestion.

"That is like saying the owner had a hand in the job and is therefore the most guilty," says Mrs White.

The scheme plans to limit assistance, aiming it at those aged over 65, earning less than $76,000. Homeowners will also have to agree not to sue to get their deal, limiting the liability of councils who are now paying the most.

Mayors of the six worst affected areas, excluding Rodney, were due to meet Mr Williamson yesterday to hammer out a deal.

The Whites have been chasing compensation for a home they bought at the end of 2001 that had a compliance certificate issued by the Rodney District Council.

Mrs White says they first noticed the situation in February 2002 when her mother, visiting from South Africa, noticed water pouring through their large tiled deck.

The Whites were told by a builder that mould growing downstairs below part of the deck was dangerous to their children’s health because it was close to their bedrooms. The children have to share a room.

In March this year the family went through adjudication and were awarded $173,801. Quotes to put their house in order are in the $270,000 range.

"It was a joke. We had to appeal, according to our lawyer’s advice," says Mrs White.

That appeal was heard on July 16, with results still pending.

"It’s life on hold when you have a leaky home. That’s the thing that is really hard to convey to people.

"We tried to get a builder to come and do repairs, but we couldn’t find a builder who would touch a leaky building with a barge pole. Many of the original builders of these homes have folded up and gone.

"My heart goes out to homeowners who read about the new proposals and think ‘what can we do?’.

"You will get some homeowners who are honest about their homes, and others who will get someone in to do a quick fix, put the house on the market and sell it on to the next poor sucker."

Prime Minister and Helensville MP John Key is reported as saying the leaky homes proposal has not yet been signed off, but that under the proposal’s terms a homeowner would always retain the right to sue.

"But the most important thing is we need to make sure that homeowners have an opportunity to fix their houses, so that they can move on, either sell the property or do whatever they want."

There are about 30 leaky homes cases in Rodney at various stages of adjudication.