Quake repairs to start on state houses

Damage to a Christchurch house after the earthquake. Photo / Greg Bowker

Permanent repair work will soon start on about 1500 state houses damaged in the Canterbury quake.

Housing Minister Phil Heatley said the homes in question underwent interim repair work after the quake but were chosen for permanent repairs as they suffered less damage than others and work could be completed relatively quickly.

Almost 4000 state homes were damaged in the quake, 24 of which were deemed uninhabitable, and another four of which were deemed beyond economic repair.

Housing New Zealand (HNZ) is continuing to scope the work necessary to make permanent repairs to the remaining nearly 2500 properties with more significant damage, and is working with its insurer to get the necessary approvals.

"HNZ will do its best to complete most repairs over the next year," Mr Heatley said. "However, this large and complex work programme is six times larger than the upgrade programme the corporation had planned for state homes in Christchurch prior to the quake."

He said tenants in the worst affected homes had either been moved to alternate accommodation, or been offered the opportunity to move but opted to stay, where it was safe to do so.

"Those without essential services, such as sewerage, have had their rent halved."

Work on the more moderately damaged 1500 homes was expected to be complete by March, Mr Heatley said.

- NZPA