Weathertight Services

On 1 April 2007, the Weathertight Homes Resolution Services Act 2006 (the WHRS Act) came into force. The new WHRS Act makes changes to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the services provided under the WHRS Act and deliver better outcomes for owners of leaky homes.

The purpose of the WHRS Act is to provide speedy, flexible and cost-effective procedures for resolving leaky home disputes as an alternative to the courts.

The WHRS Act is administered by two government agencies.

• Weathertight Services at the Department of Building and Housing receives claim applications and provides assessment, information, guidance and mediation services.
• The Weathertight Homes Tribunal   supported by the Ministry of Justice, is a judicially independent Tribunal that provides adjudication for claims.

The WHRS Act provides owners of leaky homes with:

• a low-cost assessment of the weathertightness problems with the house (or multi-unit complex)
• access to dispute resolution services.

Find out about:

• the WHRS claim process and bringing a claim under the WHRS Act
• claims relating to properties within a multi-unit complex
• the transition process from the 2002 Act to the 2006 Act
• the assessment of your property
• your resolution options after eligibility has been confirmed and the lower-value WHRS claims process
• financing repairs and maintaining your home
• contacting Weathertight Services and the Weathertight Homes Tribunal

Numerous booklets and information sheets can be downloaded from this website.

You can also read the WHRS Act on the New Zealand Legislation website .