Owners of leaky homes win city council payout

Although details remain confidential, the Herald understands the owners of the West End Apartments were seeking up to $2.1 million to repair their leaky homes and that the settlement was close to that amount.

The claim was laid against the council on the grounds that its inspectors were negligent in issuing a building consent and inspecting the Livingstone St units while they were being built in 1996 and 1997.

They were also allegedly negligent in issuing the final code of compliance certificate.

By 2001 the terraced houses were leaking and poor workmanship was evident. Owners began suffering from stress and depression.

The owners brought a claim in the High Court at Auckland against the council, builder Link Construction, project manager Dalton Management and James Hardie NZ (now called Studorp). Since then the builders and project managers have gone into liquidation.

The remaining parties were due to meet for mediation on December 15.

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