Media Release
07 December, 2008
Gloomy Christmas For Leaky Home Owners
Despite building consents dropping 45% and the building industry hunkering down for a lean twelve months ahead, many
leaky homes will remain in desperate need of repair over the Christmas break.
“It is a very ironic situation. Builders are worrying where their next job will come from, while thousands of leaky
homes sit unrepaired” says Steven McAneney, founder of website www.leakyhomeforum.co.nz
According to Steven, an overly complicated legal process is preventing owners from receiving the funds they need to
start repairs. Many cannot afford to repay the huge loans necessary for repairs, so are left with no choice but to
continue living in houses that are rotting beneath them.
To alleviate the problem, Steven suggests low interest loans from the Government. Cutting the current Department of
Building and Housing lending rate for eligible leaky home claimants from the current 10.45% to 1% - 2%, would mean leaky
home owners could finance remedial work, and then attempt to claim it back through the courts.
What they win may not pay off all of their debts, but at least they will have a roof over their heads and a safe
building in which to spend their next Christmas with their family.
ENDS