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KEY POINTS:
Elizabeth Biddle sits with her cat Lily in her little flat near Auckland's Newton Gully. A fake Christmas tree brightens up the place, but she doesn't feel much like celebrating.
There is a summary judgment lying on the kitchen table. Served by the body corporate, it demands more than $17,000 as her share of repairs to apartments in the 60-unit Sienna Terraces complex. Biddle says she has already paid $52,000 in levies and has no more money.
She says she bought the apartment in 2006 knowing it was an "alleged" leaky building and was told the council would pay for any repairs.
It was a costly mistake.
Sienna Terraces owners' committee chairman Bob Tuxford says it will be "sad" if Biddle loses her home but he needed to consider all the owners.
"Elizabeth Biddle knew full well it was a leaky home ... The [other owners] have paid their money and are getting on with life. It's over to the lawyers to decide what to do next.
"She will be bankrupted and her assets will be sold to fulfil debts. It's probably happening all the time."
