The number of active leaky-home claims lodged with the Government may be dropping, but Western Bay home owners and buyers are being warned it does not mean the issue is going away.
In the Tauranga City Council area, as at September 29, 231 properties had 47 active claims lodged with
the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment's (MBIE) Weathertight Homes Resolution Service - down from 276 properties with 87 active claims in January 2013.
In the Western Bay of Plenty District Council area the numbers had also dropped from 14 properties with 14 claims at the start of last year to nine properties and nine claims last month.
An MBIE spokesman said the figures were for active, open claims which were seeking a resolution through either the Financial Assistance Package, Weathertight Tribunal or the courts. Claims could be closed for several reasons including the property being repaired or sold.
Tauranga barrister and leaky homes specialist Nathan Smith said he believed the figures reflected more people missing out on Government assistance rather than a drop in the number of leaky homes needing repairs. "There's the 10-year time limit so for someone to be eligible now their house has to have been completed after 2004 and most houses were completed before that," he said.
