10-year “stop-the-clock” leaky homes deadline.
The government’s $1 billion leaky home rescue package has become law. Affected homeowners will receive a 25 percent contribution from the government and 25 percent from local authorities that have signed up to the package (not all have). The other 50 percent can be financed by bank loans if the homeowner meets the package’s bank-lending criteria.
The deadline for being eligible for the package is approaching fast – it’s 10 years from the date of completion for the building work. Completion means the date the house or alteration was habitable or fit to use. So if you want to “stop the clock” before the 10 years is up register your claim with the Department of Building and Housing.
The package is voluntary and is an additional option to the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service. To take up the package, homeowners must agree not to sue their local authority (if it’s part of the package) or the Crown. Homeowners can still sue builders, developers, architects, and manufacturers of defective building products.
More information
- To find out more about the package or to register a claim contact the Department of Building and Housing: 0800 116 926 or info@dbh.govt.nz.
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Yet again Government are trying to cover up their responsibilities. I owned a leaky in Tauranga. It was a four bedroom house and the repair bill from weathertight services came in at $290k. The builder we were going to use owned a leaky he had bought. It was a 3 bedroom home in Tauranga. The repair bill was also $290k. I was at a weathertight seminar and met someone from Wellington with a 2bdr townhouse with a repair bill of $290k. I have a mate in Auckland that had a repair bill on a 5 Bedroom villa for $290k. I went to a second Weather tight service seminar and met another person with a repair bill on his 3 unit complex...wouldn't you know it, he had a repair bill of $290k. At both seminars we were told that unless the bill came in over $300k you couldn't pursue the council etc unless we went to the Supreme Court. In other words Hundreds of Thousands of dollars and years later, we could come out with nothing. Then the government(who set up Weather tight Services)trys to say look, we will pay 25% as long as you don't sue us...get real...who do you guys think you are fooling. You are bad eggs who need to be held accountable for the decisions you enforced. The finger is pointed at you however you use our money to cover your guilty butts!!!
If you have missed out on the date for this legislation (10 years from the time the house could have been lived in), you may still be eligible for a claim in court under the 10 year long stop provision in the building act (assuming you have parties to claim against). This is 10 years from the date of the negligent "act or omission" that lead to your loss. In the case of the council this is 10 years from the date of the issuing of the CCC.