Stuff
Leaky building lawyer Adina Thorn comments on the next potential crisis to hit apartment blocks – sub-standard fire systems in multi-unit dwellings and the secret settlements to homeowners involving professional fire engineers and the Auckland Council.
The systemic failure by cost-cutting apartment developers to build fire-safe apartment blocks in New Zealand’s major city is being kept under wraps by secret legal settlements.
The Sunday Star-Times has learned of a number of secret settlements to homeowners involving professional fire engineers and the Auckland Council for sub-standard fire systems in multi-unit dwellings although the council denies its involvement.
While the fire safety problems are not restricted to Auckland or apartment buildings, the Star-Times understands settlements so far have related to Auckland apartment complexes.