EQC receives 256 claims over floods

REMEDIAL WORK: EQC engineers are looking for solutions to this slip above Portal St.PHOTO/BEVAN CONLEY 070715WCBRCPORT01

Engineers have yet to decide what remedial work will be needed to fix a major slip on Portal St, the main access route to Wanganui's Durie Hill suburb.

The slip appeared in front of a house in Rees St, a cul-de-sac above Portal St, after heavy rains brought flooding and slips to a large part of the city and district on June 20-21.

Meanwhile, Gail Kettle, EQC customer and claims general manager, said the commission had received 256 damage claims so far from across the district as a result of the June floods.

"Two teams of our assessors with two in each team last week began visiting properties where claims have been lodged," Ms Kettle said.

She said once engineers had inspected both the Rees St properties they would prepare reports so EQC could work out what the next steps would be.

Ms Kettle said anyone making a claim needed to be aware that property owners must have had a fire insurance contract with a private insurance company on their residential building at the time of the event to make a claim.

"Anyone making a claim for landslip, or other eligible natural disaster damage, has three months from the day their property was damaged to contact EQC.

They will need to provide specific details of the damage and other information, such as the name of their insurance company and policy details," she said.

Ms Kettle said if people needed to take action to make their home safe, sanitary, secure and weather-tight, they should also record the work done, take photographs where appropriate, and keep a copy of any bills paid.

Reimbursement for temporary or urgent repairs is subject to EQC acceptance of a valid claim.

"And in regard to homeowner security, EQC staff will always carry photo identification, and will usually call ahead to arrange an assessment of your property," she said.

-People can claim online at www.eqc.govt.nz/claims or call 0800 326 243.