MEDIA RELEASE 21 July 2005
Weathertight Homes Resolution Service – latest figures
The Weathertight Homes Resolution Service (WHRS) has 2414 active claims, WHRS Acting National Manager, Nigel Bickle,
said today. The WHRS was set up to help resolve disputes over “leaky homes”.
Assessments to determine eligibility for the Service and the extent of property damage are provided at no cost to
homeowners. To date 2505 assessment reports have been sent to homeowners. If claims are eligible homeowners can choose
to use the WHRS’s voluntary mediation process, opt for compulsory adjudication, or decide to take no further action.
Homeowners are required to pay $200 towards the cost of mediation and $400 towards the cost of adjudication.
The WHRS has completed 377 resolutions: 256 using mediation, 25 through adjudication and 96 resolved by other means. The
mediation and adjudication processes are underway for a further 501 homeowners. An additional 1089 homeowners have had
their cases deemed eligible by the WHRS Evaluation Panel and have yet to decide whether to proceed to mediation or
adjudication.
The WHRS freephone help line 0800 116 926 operates Monday to Friday from 8.30am – 7.00pm.
A breakdown of active claims by the region in which they occur is available on the WHRS website
www.weathertightness.govt.nz. The website also contains information about the work of the Service and issues related to
leaky homes.
ENDS