Leaky homes review worries owners

Owners of leaky homes are worried the issue will become a "political football" during the election campaign as the Government yesterday promised them more help - but not until after polling day.

Building Issues Minister Chris Carter said a review of the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service (WHRS) and its governing legislation was under way. However the Cabinet would have to approve any increase in funding or any changes to the law and that would not happen until October.

National MP Dr Nick Smith labelled the review a "farce".

"It's effectively an acknowledgment the service [the Government] set up two and half years ago is a failure and they don't know how to fix it," he said.

Yesterday, at a meeting in Auckland with members of the Leaky Homes Action Group, Mr Carter promised to:

* Speed up and simplify the claims process.

* Prioritise cases where homes are deteriorating rapidly or where the owners face a health risk.

* Offer a faster resolution service for smaller and less complex claims.

* Help residents in multi-units get their case through the WHRS process.

* Hold directors of companies liable for shonky work.

* Reduce the number of lawyers involved in the dispute process.

"We have to put this whole business of leaky homes behind us," Mr Carter said.

"We will continue to examine new ways of doing things in the WHRS as new information comes to light over the lifetime of the ... problem."

He said people had the right to know whether the minister was proposing to allow homeowners to claim legal fees during the claims process as National was proposing.

Action Group chairman John Gray said the proposals were a step in the right direction. "But the devil is in the detail," he said.

He was concerned about the issue becoming "a political football" so close to polling day. "I don't want it to be part of the election in terms of the point scoring that goes on," he said.