Raymond

HUO

Associate Spokesperson for Building & Construction

6 November 2013 MEDIA STATEMENT

Court case another wake-up call

A pending Supreme Court ruling could impact on hundreds of leaky home owners across New Zealand who have missed out on compensation due to the 10-year time limit, says Labour’s Associate spokesperson for Building and Construction Raymond Huo.

Auckland couple John and Helen Osborne, who were told they were ineligible for the Weathertight Homes Resolution Service, have argued the time frame should have started from when the code compliance certificate was issued, rather than when construction began.

“Regardless of the outcome, this case is a wake-up call to Building and Construction Minister Maurice Williamson to take another look at the Code Compliance Certificate (CCC) regime that has been replaced under his Building Amendment Bill (No 3).

“The Consent Completion Certificate set to replace the current CCC will create confusion and deliver uncertainties for both home owners and the construction industry.

“On the one hand I'm glad that the Minister has not triggered the new regime for obvious reasons, but on the other I've remained concerned that the new regime had been instituted as part of the Minister's piecemeal approach .”

“It appears the Minister was convinced that the licensing regime for builders ,which Labour supports, was the main reason for the new CCC regime.

“However I agree to the views by the submitters that the licensing regime at this stage is only ‘ticking boxes’, and not a standard that will guarantee the quality of craftsmanship and the design of new homes.

“It is absolutely vital the Government gets this right ahead of the Christchurch rebuild and housing boom in Auckland and other regions”.

ENDS

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