Builder’s promise on house defects
A new home fraught with defects has taken a toll on Jim and Liz Malone’s golden years.
The retired Stratford couple, who purchased a pre-fabricated home nearly two years ago in search of a simpler life, instead say they received a house with a slew of faults that they noticed as soon as they moved in last March.
‘‘The first thing we noticed was mismatched wallpaper in the guest room,’’ Jim, a former builder, said.
‘‘Then we started looking and noticed the ranch slider was off level, there was a hump in the kitchen that felt like you were walking on a seesaw, and the windows and doors were bowed and out of plumb.’’
‘‘We haven’t slept in months,’’ Liz, 69, said.
‘‘It’s not a case of slap up some new paint - it’s a myriad of work needed.’’
The couple decided to go public with their house problems after making little progress over the last 10 months in getting their Keith Hay Home fixed.
Keith Hay Homes director David Hay has now promised repairs will be made.
Hay said the company ‘‘were let down by several subcontractors’’.
‘‘However we accept full responsibility to resolve the issues,’’ he said. ‘‘We are concerned about the time rectification has taken. We have had challenges as a result of high demand for good quality labour in Taranaki.’’
Hay added, the company was committed to resolve ‘‘all outstanding matters’’ as homes come with ‘‘a personal guarantee’’.
The Malones’ experience is apparently not unknown in the pre-fabrication sector.
Non-profit head PrefabNZ chief executive officer Pamela Bell said there was a need for an industry fine tune.
She said pre-fabricated home companies contract a number of professionals to build houses, which often left accountability blurred by the extended chain of command.
- Brittany Baker