Renovation nightmare for rugby boss

Mark Anscombe's controversial North Shore home. Photo / Herald on Sunday

Auckland rugby coach Mark Anscombe is embroiled in a court battle over the bill for renovating his sprawling $750,000 North Shore home.

Anscombe is being sued by John Price of J&M Builders for work on his Murrays Bay property on Auckland's North Shore and is counter-suing the company in response.

Meanwhile, the house has still not got a code of compliance certificate, and Anscombe's lawyer, Wayne Peters, says his client has "run out of money".

The work at Anscombe's Saddleback Rise home involved demolishing a carport and building a garage, a new master bedroom with ensuite, new decks and a lounge extension.

The three-bedroom house and swimming pool back on to a park. The Anscombes bought the property for $347,000 in December 2000 and it is now valued at $750,000.

Papers filed at the North Shore District Court show that Price provided an estimate of more than $291,000 for the work in January 2007.

But in October that year, Price told Anscombe and his wife Tracey that the price was to go up by 10 per cent.

The Anscombes paid Price $153,309 and he is suing for a further $51,319.

However, the Anscombes say in their counter claim that they have already paid $315,447, including $162,139 to subcontractors.

The Anscombes argue there was an agreement that they would pay the subcontractors directly.

They also claim that not only did Price charge them a further 10 per cent for the materials but he also added another 10 per cent to the bill for labour.

They are demanding $168,100 from Price for the cost of completing the renovations.

Anscombe declined to comment on the matter: "There's nothing I want to talk about with it to be honest, it's something that I've got to solve with him."

But Peters told the Herald on Sunday the dispute revolved around a disagreement over whether a quote was given for the work, with Anscombe claiming there was.

"Mark says he got a contract and the job exceeded it by $100,000 plus," he said. "He took a quote because this guy gave him a figure. The plans did not change one iota - this wasn't a case of design as you went."

Peters said the work on the house was not finished, leaving Anscombe without a Code of Compliance certificate and financially stretched. "He's run out of money."

Anscombe's rugby life began in 1977 when he started playing rugby for Auckland. He was appointed Auckland coach in November 2008 after having coached Northland for three years.

Price and his lawyer, Bruce Pamatatau, both declined to comment. The case is due to be heard next month.