Developers kept selling
A company linked to the failed Bella Vista subdivision continued selling millions of dollars’ worth of new homes in the same suburb.
The revelation has shocked those left in financial limbo by the initial housing debacle.
Dozens of people were evicted from new houses in the Pyes Pa Bella Vista subdivision on March 9 after it was found 21 houses were shoddily built and potentially dangerous, despite the fact Tauranga City Council signed them off as compliant.
Owners now face a lengthy court battle to get enough cash back to re-enter the property market after Bella Vista Homes director Danny Cancian put the company into liquidation in November 2017.
But throughout the process, three more properties built and owned by Canconstruct Ltd – which had Cancian as a director and now lists his wife and daughter, Amanda and Aimee Cancian, as directors – were sold for a total of $2.5 million. The company is partially owned by a Cancian family trust.
In December 2017, 12 Gyle Place was sold for $905,000; in January 2018, 16 Gyle Place sold for $900,000; and in May 2018, 18 Gyle Place sold for $780,000.
In June, another house-andland package was listed on Trade
Me under a trading name used by Aimee Cancian, fully completed for just a $5000 deposit.
The listing was for a threebedroom, two-bathroom, 150sqm house at 85 Awataha Cres. It was advertised for $695,000. That listing has since been removed and the property has been listed with a real estate agent.
Bella Vista homeowner Lee Konowe was vexed at the news that Cancian-connected companies were still selling properties.
‘‘This occurred at a time when homeowners were undertaking costly repairs to their homes to try to get them up to code,’’ he said.
‘‘It appears Cancian was serving his own needs and not really trying to assist with the homeowners left behind.
‘‘I also question how it would be possible for him to have the capital to build a house for only $5000 down.’’
When approached about the Trade Me listing for 85 Awataha Cres, Cancian initially said it had nothing to do with Canconstruct, despite the entity being listed as the legal owner. He then said the company was ‘‘selling a couple of sections’’.
Cancian said Canconstruct Ltd is no longer building any houses and another family member had been going to build a house on the section, but this would no longer happen.
The Awataha Cres house-andland advertisement has since been removed from Trade Me and has now been listed with Eves.co.nz without the house component.
The listing says the site is approximately 579 square metres with a freehold title.
‘‘The section is flat and allows you to build a house with a reasonable-size garden for you to enjoy,’’ the listing says.
The agent could not comment on the listing.