Leaky home owners left out in cold as council delays repairs

A group of Ellerslie leaky building owners who have waited nearly a year for permission to repair their homes have complained to a Government department about the delay.

But Auckland City Council has told them that until all the issues have been resolved permission to go ahead with the repairs will be withheld.

Last year, owners of the 76-unit Ellerslie Court, on Harrison Rd, fought for compensation for repairs, winning almost $3 million, although the details are subject to confidentiality clauses.

They claimed $7 million, but the High Court at Auckland ruled they had to enter mediation and avoid costly litigation to reach a settlement.

Now, attempts to get the council to grant a building consent for re-cladding the units have failed, which has left residents having to pay for scaffolding that went up months ago.

Ted Jones, a council senior building officer, said any recladding had to comply with the building code and, until all matters were resolved, no consent would be issued.

Mark Williams, of leaky building consultants Prendos, has complained to John Gardiner, determinations chief at the Department of Building and Housing, pleading for assistance to resolve what he sees as a deadlock between Ellerslie Court's owners and the council.

Williams said owners first applied for building consent last August but problems with that application resulted in revisions, which they submitted on January 26.

The council sent a list of questions and requests for more information about the work in February, resulting in meetings involving Williams, Prendos director Greg O'Sullivan, council chief building officer Bob de Leur and Jones.

Most issues were resolved and several documents were sent to Jones on March 22 and 23.

After weeks of waiting, Williams said, he contacted the council to ask if more information was needed and if technical issues were causing the delays. He waited seven weeks before receiving more information

De Leur said the need for more details was at the heart of the delay.

"From day one when the application was lodged, we were not comfortable with the level of detail provided," he said. "The detailing and the scope of works missed some quite key areas which we have required to be addressed. At our first meeting with representatives from Prendos, we worked through those key issues."

The cladding reconstruction was complex and included steel studwork and fire rating. Council also required a quality assurance recording process.

"We wish to be absolutely sure that this building's cladding is being reconstructed in the most appropriate manner possible and that this is well recorded," he said. "We do not wish to re-visit the problems ... again in a few years' time.

"We are endeavouring to work through the detailing with Prendos ... We are conscious of the owners' concerns regarding the time frames."


BUILDING SAGA

* Ellerslie Court was developed by a Chinese Government-owned organisation in 1998.

* Residents discovered leaking decks, unsealed windows and cracks in exterior cladding.

* They sought $7 million in compensation and won almost $3 million in a confidential deal.

* The High Court ordered mediation last winter.

* Consent to re-clad three blocks applied for but council asked for more details and refused consent in the meantime.