KEY POINTS:
A new website has been established for leaky home owners.
The website leakyhomeforum.co.nz has victim experiences, links to other sites and a place for users to share ideas and ask questions.
Steven McAneney, who had leak problems, set up the site out of frustration at the lack of
guidance for people struggling with claims.
"I just got fed up with having to research every step of the leaky home resolution process from scratch," McAneney said.
"For every situation a leaky home owner finds themselves in, you can guarantee there is at least one other person who has been there too."
John Gray of the Homeowners and Buyers Association had mixed views about the site.
"I applaud anyone who is prepared to put this information out there but having reviewed some of the blog information it is potentially misleading and may set people on a path to more misery.
"In the 'How do I know I can trust these people section' the advice is reasonable but far from comprehensive and does not give anyone the solid advice required to properly select, contract and control a builder.
"The mere fact that a builder still has a registered company is not sufficient basis to engage that builder and nor is their registration as a Master or Certified Builder.
"It is an absolute minefield because of the responsibilities and potential liabilities the poor old leaky home owner takes on when organising the remedial project," Gray said.
Greg O'Sullivan of leaky building consultants Prendos said his firm and Progressive Building were producing a free document to help house buyers.
"The motivation to produce this document came from people who had taken various bad turns or been led to make poor decisions.
"For instance receiving a poor Weathertight Homes Resolution Service assessment and believing it to be correct and settling for a very low number, then struggling to be able to repair or doing poor repairs that needed redoing and correcting two years later," he said.
Philip O'Sullivan of Prendos said websites could be useful but could also turn into an "unhappy person" forum giving lots of advice - but not all of it good.
"The simple reality is that fixing these homes costs a bundle and the legal system, whether it be Weathertight Homes Tribunal, or the courts also costs a bundle.
"There will always be lots of unhappy people. Those who handle it in a dispassionate business-like manner tend to do best. Others, through circumstances or their own natures, can become victims," he said.
