The community will have the final say on whether the Tauranga City Council signs up for the government's leaky homes package.
The council decided this week to join the scheme which involves the council and government each paying 25 per cent of the costs and the homeowner paying 50 per cent.
The cost to ratepayers of entering the scheme is unknown.
The council is choosing to take part because it offers potential claimants another option to resolve leaky homes issues, says City Directions group manager Jeremy Boase.
Homeowners retain the right to either enter the package, use the current Weathertight Homes Resolution Service, or take a straight legal liability approach.
City councillors also decided to add $250,000 to the risk reserve from rates, to start to build a fund to settle future leaky homes claims.
The Draft Annual Plan in which this features is out for consultation in March.
8 comments
BASKETCASE STUFF
Posted on 11-12-2010 08:09 | By Ratcatcher
TCC have effectively made no financial provision for the looming mess admit TCC have no idea how much is involved and TCC solution is simply whatever is needed will come from ratepayers through extra rates or loans.Happy days campers you got the Council you voted for
Split vote 6/5 ....
Posted on 11-12-2010 09:03 | By Murray.Guy
The voting by elected members in support of ratepayers beinmg forced to meet Central Governments obligations (again) went 6 / 5. I lost (again)! I believe the majority accepted reality that TCC has not contributed to the leaky home saga. Central Government (through it's statutes and agencies) set the building codes. Council's role is to ensure their rules are adhered to. Bit like a policeman. If we become aware that a speed limit is too high, contributing to injuries, we don't hold the police accountable!
Oh Dear
Posted on 20-12-2010 17:34 | By Jitter
TC Councillors should be very apprehensive now that a leaky home owner in Auckland has won the right in court to take the council to court over his leaky home. Mayor Crosby states that there are only 15 leaky homes in Tauranga that the council are responsible for. Thats odd because up to the end of September over 150 claims had been lodged in Tauranga. Taking the council to court would cost a lot more than to repair the home as the owners could also claim for stress and any resulting illness which could run into millions of dollars. Tauranga ratepayers should refuse to pay for council cockups in these case.
CGAF repeated
Posted on 24-12-2010 18:07 | By The Master
Good one Jitter, BUT WAIT IT IS WORSE ... than that ! TCC in thier wisdom paid $400,000 to a guy who wanted to retire so as they could employ 17 building inspectors who werer all in the middle of it then anyway. the only benefit of that is if they all donate thier salaries, kiwisaver and assets to help fix the mess, YEAH RIGHT!!!!!!!!!
OF COURSE THEY DO
Posted on 29-12-2010 18:48 | By The Master
But for a responsible position to be taken, those who failed to carry out their proper and lawful duty for inspect should be accountable, they should not be allowed to profit endlessly from the HUGE consent fees paid to Council then hide behind a liquidated company or two, get a handout to retire from Council and more.
OF COURSE THEY DO - PART 2
Posted on 30-12-2010 16:52 | By The Master
That means Council only gets to pay for 25% of a few leaky home messes that have had compliance issued for .... Even then not much show of a home owner getting anything anyway.
THE CORPORATE
Posted on 31-12-2010 12:31 | By The Master
They are in hidding, CGAF Ltd was only doing the inspections from about 2005 to 2010 or so, now cashed up and being liquidated ASAP. But that is actually where teh responsbility resides, all was signed off and a compliance issued by Council, CGAF was contracted to Council and they are as responsbile as anyone is, that includes: Council, CGAF, its directors etc, staff, and the contractors who failed to act in a proper tradesman like manner.
JUST WALK AWAY
Posted on 31-12-2010 12:34 | By The Master
Council is ultimately responsible, they are and always were. So of course they favour the Government scheme as that wipes 75% of the bill for a start. Then with Bay Building Certifiers Ltd (liquidated in 2005) and CGAF Ltd soon to go west as well then all the home owners will be left to fend for themselves. The system has failed and thise responsbile have profited then run away no doubt to some sun-soaked island somewhere.
Leave a Comment
You must be logged in to make a comment.