Manukau shows support for leaky building package

Manukau City Council has agreed in principle to support the Government proposal to assist homeowners with leaky buildings.

However the council believes there are still a number of issues to be worked through before the scheme goes ahead.

The Government’s proposal would see leaky home owners able to choose to pay 50 per cent of repair work costs themselves and the remainder to shared 25 per cent by councils and 25 per by government.

The scheme would be optional and homeowners can still go through the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service process or take civil court action.

Manukau Mayor Len Brown says he hopes support from councils will take homeowners another step closer to having certainty about how their leaky building issues will be sorted out.

“We’re also calling on the Government to have a vetting process so builders or developers responsible for leaky homes can’t take advantage of the new scheme by getting any of the repair work.

“The formula in the Government’s proposal seems reasonable. However we do know that homeowners will still be in an extremely difficult and stressful position.

“At present when the council is a party to claims with the builder and developer the liability centred on the council is 20 per cent. However ratepayers often end up unfairly carrying all of the costs because other parties have disappeared.

“There are still a number of issues that need to be addressed. It is important that we get it right because there will be a big impact on the new Auckland Council, meaning it is of interest to the whole region.”

Manukau has a lower number of claims than other urban councils. There are currently 57 claims that the council is likely to be involved in.

Among the issues Manukau City Council would like to see addressed in the new scheme are: what will happen where there was proportional council/building certifier involvement, if purchasers who bought with knowledge of issues will be allowed to apply, how to ensure remedial costs are fair and reasonable, will homeowner be able to move from a claim process to the cost share scheme and what timelines will be to undertake repair works.

ENDS

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