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Some Auckland homeowners are facing hefty bills because insurance won’t cover damages to their properties allegedly caused by on-going roadworks.
According to residents, quoted in a report by Newshub, construction work on the Southern Motorway has cracked their walls and driveways.
The publication outlines the case of Conifer Grove resident Gayleen Smith, whose household has been subjected to intense vibrations for the past two years. Her house, lying adjacent to the motorway, has allegedly suffered outdoor and indoor damage. Her insurance company initially said it would cover the damage, but a year later allegedly refused to accept the claim as Smith was “not covered for vibration damage.”
Smith added she’s not the only one and that another property has had cracks in its pool, and another had several cracks in its driveway. She has reportedly been in touch with the NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) but isn’t getting any help. The report added that Smith now faces a mammoth repair bill of $500,000 and is worried she’ll end up homeless.
NZTA, meanwhile, said it is working with affected homeowners in relation to the issue but noted that vibration levels are regularly monitored to be below resource consent conditions. The rumbling won’t stop until work is completed towards the end of 2019.
