Photo: RNZ / Patrice Allen
The James Hardie group of companies are being sued by more than 1000 homeowners over what they claim were product deficiencies of their Harditex exterior cladding, causing their houses to rot and develop mould.
Today, a lawyer for the defendant said the cladding in question was not at fault in one of the homes in the case.
Homeowners said Harditex fibre-cement cladding allowed rainwater in and not out, causing damage to the structure of their homes. They also say James Hardie knew or ought to have known the product was defective. The company stopped manufacturing the product in 2005.
Leaky homes lawsuit: James Hardie says complainers a drop in the ocean when vast number of good homes taken into account nzherald.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from nzherald.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Blaming builders for leaky building scandal left bad taste for suffering homeowners, court told
17 May, 2021 12:51 AM
3 minutes to read
Too many homes across New Zealand have similar problems with Harditex for builders to be blamed, a lawyer says. Photo / 123RF
Too many homes across New Zealand have similar problems with Harditex for builders to be blamed, a lawyer says. Photo / 123RF
Blaming bad builders for a menu of leaky house problems has left a foul taste in the mouths of aggrieved homeowners, a court heard today.
About 1000 homeowners are involved in the $220 million class action lawsuit against Australian building materials company James Hardie.
Photo: RNZ / Dan Cook
More than 1000 people are collectively seeking more than $200 million in a court battle against the James Hardie group of companies.
It s a mammoth case - six years since the first legal claim, set down for four months, to in part determine one of the country s longest-running legal dramas - leaky homes.
Sharon Leigh and her husband are living in a mouldy, rotting home in Whitby, near Porirua. I have been told to move out of the house due to my health - it s not safe to be in there because I m a chronic asthmatic and we have black mould, Leigh said.
Harditex cladding: Plaintiffs seek $200m as lawsuit finally begins msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.