Illegal housing for migrants to close

A former South Auckland bingo hall that accommodated dozens of migrant workers in 22 cabins will comply with a council deadline to shut down.

Auckland Council served dangerous building and abatement notices on the Maich Rd property for operating an unconsented boarding house that posed a serious fire risk.

Council compliance investigations team manager Kerri Fergusson said there were about 10 people left at the warehouse but the owner had given assurances they would leave by today. ‘‘No resource consent has been applied for. At the moment the cabins can stay, however to use them as accommodation would require a consent.

‘‘Further action in relation to the building is yet to be decided as this is an ongoing investigation.’’

Owner Paul Knight had until tomorrow to meet council requirements and said he was helping the remaining 10 tenants, including a 70-year-old man, find places to live.

He had still not finally decided whether to seek resource consent for the cabins, which he said would be ideal for emergency housing, but he and his family were allowed to continue using their personal living area at the warehouse.

Knight said the former bingo fall was fitted with more than 100 heat and smoke sensors but fire safety officers said it was too dangerous to live in.

Recruitment company Radius Contracting installed the cabins in the warehouse for its Filipino migrant workers about 18 months ago and several of them told Stuff last month that up to 60 people lived at the premises which they described as cold and cramped.

Radius director Mark Hubble said he had found alternative accommodation for up to 35 migrant workers who had lived at Maich Rd and it was at the same price of $200 per week.

‘‘All of them are very upset to have left that community.’’

When asked about a worker claim there had been only three functioning showers at the warehouse village, Hubble said he did not know about that and had received no complaints.

If the property owner was unable to get resource consent, Hubble said the cabins could be dismantled and sold.

RYAN ANDERSON/STUFF Dozens of workers from the Philippines, who moved to New Zealand to work in trades, were accommodated in this former bingo hall in South Auckland but they have had to move on after Auckland Council took action over fire safety and resource consent issues.