*ARCHIVE* - Applications being processed by weathertight homes service - 05 Dec 2002

The Weathertight Homes Resolution Service set up by the Department of Internal Affairs is busy processing the nearly 500 people who have indicated they are likely to seek an assessment of their property.

Most affected properties are in the Auckland area, but homeowners from all over the country have contacted the service.

In October the government set up a toll-free number (0800 116 926) and a website (www.weathertightness.govt.nz) to provide information to people affected by “leaky building” problems. The toll-free number operates from 8.30am to 7pm Monday to Friday.

A mediation and adjudication service has now been established, offering homeowners a process for resolving their claims. Homeowners must meet the service’s eligibility criteria and, if their application is accepted, an independent assessment will be made of their property. Homeowners may then choose to move into the voluntary mediation process or opt immediately for the compulsory adjudication procedure.

Project co-ordinator Richard Martin said that the first assessors had been appointed this week.

“All assessors will be bound by very strict confidentiality rules as privacy for homeowners is considered paramount by the service. No information on the location of or damage to individual properties will be released by the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service. Only in cases where a property owner chooses the compulsory adjudication process will their details move into the public arena.

“Our assessors are all highly qualified professionals who will inspect the damage, assess likely causes, produce cost estimates and report the detail to the case manager appointed to each case.

“We will also have an expert panel to monitor and review all assessors’ reports so homeowners can be assured that a consistently high standard of assessment is maintained.”

The number of calls to the 0800 service continues to increase steadily, with 1,373 calls received by Wednesday evening (December 4) – including 146 in the last week. Calls from the Northern region (Auckland – Whangarei) total 642 (47%), with 145 (11%) from the Waikato – Bay of Plenty region, 391 (28%) from the Central region (Napier / Wanganui – Nelson / Blenheim) and 195 (14%) from the southern region (Christchurch / West Coast – Invercargill).



For more information contact:
Anna Smith
Communications Adviser
Weathertightness Project
Department of Internal Affairs
Phone: 04-4940606
Mobile: 025-768273