Christchurch City Council receives $15 million social housing insurance payment from EQC

The Christchurch City Council has received a second interim payment from EQC in relation to the Council’s social housing EQC claim.

The second payment of $15 million follows one of $21.4 million received from EQC in April 2011.

“This is a very welcome payment and is $5 million more than we had earlier asked for,” said the Chair of the Council’s Housing Committee Cr Glenn Livingstone.

About 97% of the council’s 2649 social housing units were damaged in the earthquakes and need repairs, or replacement.

“EQC is showing an ongoing commitment to social housing, and to those in our community who are tenants in those dwellings,” said Cr Livingstone.

“This payment now means we can keep our social housing repair programme underway until we reach a global settlement with EQC.”

To date, 311 units have been repaired and 12 new units built.

With this most recent payment in hand, the Council is aiming to repair or replace an additional 280 units before the end of the year.

“In the meantime we are continuing our work with EQC to resolve our social housing claim on a global basis.

“A global settlement would avoid the costs involved in claiming for repairs on a unit-by-unit basis,” said Cr Livingstone.

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