Leaky homes victims in plea for fair hearing

Auckland victims of leaky homes are appealing to MPs to give them a fair hearing on a proposed law change.

John Gray of the Leaky Homes Action Group has complained to Parliament's select committee office about the way submissions will be processed this month, pleading for a hearing in Auckland without time restrictions.

The committee is sitting in Wellington and will not visit Auckland, where the bulk of victims live.

Mr Gray said this showed an unwillingness to front up to victims and give them a fair hearing.

"I cannot respect a process that isn't prepared to come face to face with the reality - the real people who are affected," he said.

He is also disappointed that his group, which represents more than 2000 victims, has been given just 15 minutes to make its case.

"Auckland doesn't rate, it seems," he said.

"I am more than a little disappointed that there will not be an Auckland fixture for the hearings, given the size of the problem here. The action group was informed there would be hearings here, so is somewhat aggrieved."

The select committee has scheduled Wednesday to hear verbal submissions from Auckland on the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service Amendment Bill which aims to speed up the claim's process and shift some judicial functions to the Ministry of Justice.

Michelle Malyon, clerk of the social services committee, told Mr Gray that the select committee would not travel to Auckland but instead hear submissions in Wellington via a video conference.

"Each submission is allocated around 15 minutes to present your key points to the committee and to allow time for questions," she said.

But Mr Gray said this was inadequate because most of the victims were in Auckland and the video conference would not do justice to people who wanted to support the action group's submissions.

Building Issues Minister Clayton Cosgrove said the sooner the bill was passed, the sooner owners of leaky homes could get compensation, get their homes fixed and get on with their lives.

He has asked the social services select committee to report back to the House by December 4 to give time for the legislation to be passed this year.


Law changes

* Proposed law changes for leaky building victims:
* New tribunal to be established to hear disputes.
* Adjudicators to get more powers, including the ability to impose fines.
* Process for lower-value claims to be streamlined.
* Will make it mandatory for councils to flag leaky building notices on property files.