Leaky homes add $26m to health costs

BY JOHN HARTEVELT

Tens of thousands of families are breathing in the dangerous consequences of their leaky home, a major new study says.

A book launched in Wellington last night has for the first time put a "conservative estimate" of $26 million each year on the health cost of New Zealand's leaky home debacle.

The book's co-editor, Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman of Otago University, yesterday put responsibility for stopping the rot squarely at the feet of the National-led Government.

"They were in power when they deregulated [the building industry] and now they've got to work out what to do about it," Professor Howden-Chapman said last night.

A "perfect storm" of deregulated labour markets, the downgrading of apprenticeships, monolithic cladding techniques and unsuitable new building designs all contributed to the construction of an estimated 80,000 leaky homes, she said.

"People like to think that their home is their castle. But if you go home and you can smell mould all of the time and you've got big damp patches on the wall and ceiling, that's very stressful," Professor Howden-Chapman said.

"It makes people very anxious and there are mental health costs."

The book is the first to investigate the broad effects of the leaky buildings problem.

It says the "significant" personal mental and physical health costs of the problem can be conservatively estimated at $26 million a year on top of a growing legal bill of many millions of dollars more.

"People who live in these homes are suffering," Professor Howden-Chapman said.

There was growing evidence of links between damp and mouldy homes and the development of respiratory symptoms – even among otherwise healthy people.

People with asthma or who were immune-compromised were in serious danger living in leaky homes, the study found.

The stress associated with leaky homes had also been directly linked to a number of suicides.

Don Hunn, the former state services commissioner who wrote an official report on leaky buildings in 2002, said the new book showed the importance of avoiding a repeat of "the massive regulatory failure" leaky homes represented.

However, negotiations over a rescue package for the estimated $11.5 billion problem have been in turmoil this month.

Auckland Mayor John Banks and Wellington Mayor Kerry Prendergast said last week that they had taken sole responsibility for working with Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson over the issue.

But North Shore Mayor Andrew Williams hit back, claiming he was in direct discussions with the prime minister.

The Government has reportedly offered a package to shoulder 10 per cent of the cost of repairing leaky homes.

Mr Banks has promised to get more out of the Government and Mr Williams said they should match local council contributions dollar for dollar.

Professor Howden-Chapman said the negotiations had been "very protracted". She called for a "New Year's resolution" from the Government to agree they would underwrite unconditional loans for all affected homeowners.

PAIR BATTLE MOULD AND MENTAL ANGUISH

Miranda Patrick believes the Government should hand out a box of anti-depressants with the form to register a house as a leaky building.

The 48-year-old had to move out of her leaky million-dollar Beacon Hill home in the Wellington suburb of Strathmore in 2007 on a doctor's advice.

This came after she had been diagnosed and underwent surgery for a rare form of cancer on her tongue.

"It's a very rare cancer, associated with old male alcoholics who smoke ... The doctors kept saying it was very unusual."

Her doctor now says the most probable cause of that cancer was Stachybotrys – a toxic mould that grew in her house.

"My son was also really ill, it took me a while to figure out it was the mould as well."

Son Cameron Simpson, 11, became unwell and visited doctors more than six times, including a specialist trip to Christchurch, for symptoms he experienced only when in the house.

Ms Patrick said the mental aspect had played a huge role.

"I believe the Government should hand out a box of anti-depressants with your form to register your home as a leaky home."

She estimated her 10-year legal battle had cost her close to $1 million.

"They're not doing enough for the mental aspect ... just reading through [all the paperwork] is enough to make you depressed."

Ms Patrick believed there should be support groups and free counselling for owners of leaky homes.

"Over half of claimants drop out. It's beyond belief what it does with your life ... I hate my home, with a passion."