Banks offer to help Opal Tower owners
OWNERS of apartments in Sydney’s cracked Opal Tower are being offered mortgage relief as the future of their properties remains in limbo.
In recent days the big four banks have rolled out financial assistance packages to customers who have bought property in the beleaguered building.
Investors have rental income issues, while owneroccupiers cannot live in the building and are incurring costs elsewhere.
This comes after the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian on Friday urged owners to explore their legal options as some consider joining a class action for whoever is responsible for the building’s faults.
National Australia Bank’s chief customer officer Mike Baird said the lender has started contacting owners of Opal apartments to see if they could assist.
“We have contacted our customers given the current circumstances and will continue to stay in touch,” he said.
“We are always keen to help our customers where we can at times of difficulty.”
The Commonwealth Bank’s executive general manager of home buying Daniel Huggins said first and foremost their “primary concern is the safety and security of our customers”.
The Sydney Olympic Park tower was evacuated on Christmas Eve after cracks were discovered in the building’s structure.
Many residents were forced to relocate and some still remain out of their apartments while an investigation continues. A Westpac spokeswoman said if Opal apartment owners were under financial strain they should contact the bank.