Health costs of leaky homes exposed

A research paper shows the health costs of leaky homes will exceed $474 million and cause an additional suicide each year, says National's Building spokesman Nick Smith.

"This report , by Otago University and commissioned by the Auckland City Council, quantifies for the first time the human misery behind the leaky home debacle and the importance of getting on and fixing the thousands of mouldy, leaky homes.

"This $474 million health cost comes on top of the estimated $1.5 billion to fix leaky homes and makes the issue a $2 billion calamity. These estimates make a mockery of the Prime Minister's statements in 2002 that the leaky home issue was 'a fraction of the beat-up from media and an issue of little substance'".

The report, Potential Health Impacts Associated with Mould in Leaky Buildings was authored by Dr Nick Wilson, Professor Philippa Howden-Chapman, Professor Julian Crane, Dr Kristin Wickens, and Associate Professor Ralph Chapman and was published by the Department of Public Health, University of Otago, Wellington. It concludes that the health effects of damp and mould from leaky homes from increased respiratory and mental health problems are 'around $474 million in present day terms' and 'is probably conservative.' The report estimates leaky homes will cause an additional 6000 asthma cases, 6000 other respiratory diseases, and an additional 12,000 mental health illnesses.

"This report must trigger a rethink of the Government's strategy for dealing with the leaky home problem. The policy of denying any responsibility and leaving the problem to councils and homeowners is not working. After five years and $100 million spent on bureaucracy, the Weathertight Homes Tribunal has only resolved 15% of cases.

"Labour can no longer procrastinate. This report exposes the true cost of leaky homes is far more serious than repairing buildings – it is the health of thousands of people.

"A new strategy is required that puts the focus on getting these homes fixed."


Click to download (PDF) "Potential Health Impacts Associated with Mould in Leaky Buildings – A review commissioned by the Auckland City Council"