Leaky building service resolves 33 of first 2200 complaints

3.00pm

The year-old Weathertight Homes Resolution Service has completed a total of 33 resolutions, the Department of Internal Affairs said today.

The service, set up to help owners of houses less than 10 years old that are leaking and suffering damage, completed the first resolution in July.

It gives free assessments to determine the extent of the water damage and offers mediation and adjudication services.

More than 5000 people had called the freephone information line, and more than 2200 owners had completed claim forms, the department said in a statement.

Of the 33 resolutions, 21 had been resolved through mediation, two at adjudication and 10 by other means.

The service employs 19 staff and brochures for dwelling owners have been produced in English, Chinese, Korean, Samoan, Tongan and Maori.

A freephone information line in six languages was set up in response to demand.

- NZPA