Posted on

Avonside Blog update

On Tuesday of last week Blog Central relocated to Kaiapoi.

It was a somewhat fraught experience with Southern Response doing their best, but not able to keep up with the pace of events. The law firm acting on our behalf did a sterling job of prodding Southern Response to complete the paperwork and produce the money. The more sinister part was the thuggish phone call from the CERA Call Centre a few days before settlement making impossible demands on our moving out and threatening prosecution for trespass if I ever set foot back on the land at 57 Cowlishaw Street from the moment of settlement.

We got out in one piece, at a price, and now see why Kaiapoi is so popular with those who live here. 
Paul and I will be seeking a chat with CERA management over their hardened attitude concerning settlement dates and departure, especially in the face of delays and poor communication from insurance companies who seem reluctant to cough up their contribution to the settlement process.

There has to be a more humane way of helping people to leave.

Will keep you posted.
.

Posted on

Measuring the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes on the residential property market.

Lincoln University are conducting an on-line survey to see how prospective home buyers view the risk associated with land zoning (TC1, TC2, TC3) and the likelihood of flooding, how this affects the price they are willing to pay, areas prospective buyers prefer, and construction preferences. The survey, Residents’ perceptions relating to residential property in Canterbury post the earthquakes is open to all who want to participate and starts here. The survey is for both homeowners and renters. A few questions are detailed however you can leave a question unanswered if you wish. Some questions were unclear when I did it, so left them blank. The following introductory information is from the Lincoln website.

Professor Sandy Bond from Lincoln University is currently conducting research to investigate householders’ perceptions towards the impacts of the Canterbury earthquakes on the residential property market. The 22 February 2011 Canterbury earthquake had a devastating impact on Christchurch property with the significant damage caused to land and buildings. As at July 2012, 7541 properties have been zoned Red, including 406 properties in the Port Hills – that is, the land damage was so severe that it is uneconomic to be repaired and will not be able to be rebuilt on. The overall impact on the residential property market has been dramatic with the initial number of sales stalling due in part to difficulty getting access to insurance and mortgage finance.

.

Posted on

Insurance issues for older houses.

The Otago Daily Times reports that insurers in Dunedin are declining to insure houses built before 1935. It may be that this is the case in Christchurch too? From the beginning of the ODT article:

As many as one in 20 Dunedin house sales are falling through at the last hurdle because insurance companies are declining to insure houses built before 1935. And for many real estate agents, vendors and purchasers in Dunedin, the situation is beginning to cause headaches. Insurance Council of New Zealand (ICNZ) finance and regulations manager Terry Jordan said reinsurers of New Zealand insurance companies were focusing more intensely on risk in New Zealand as a consequence of the Christchurch earthquakes. That was making many insurers more risk averse – particularly when it came to insuring pre-1935 houses. “They are looking at whether they have been rewired or replumbed. The wiring in pre-1935 houses was rubber-coated – it deteriorates and breaks down, exposing the wires, which can cause short circuits and fires. “It’s based on insurers’ experiences over many years – not just since Christchurch.” Mr Jordan said pre-1935 houses could previously be insured under an indemnity policy, but some insurers were now declining insurance until the houses were rewired.

The full article is here.

Posted on

Relocating Red Zone houses

Roger Sutton’s weekly Update released yesterday contains the following interesting snippet (at the end of the 7th paragraph) on Red Zone houses:

“CERA is looking into the possibility of relocating relatively undamaged red zone houses in cases where Government offers are accepted.”

 If you are interested it would pay to give CERA a call on 0800 RING CERA (0800 7464 2372) and ask how they are getting on with the idea. The Update is here.
.

Posted on

Village people – a report from Linwood Park Temporary Earthquake Village

David Haywood and his family, formerly of Avonside Drive, have moved into temporary accommodation while their lovely old Edwardian villa is relocated and repaired in Dunsandel. For them the temporary location is the government housing at Linwood Park.

You can read his account of them arriving arriving and settling in on his blog here. David has a great blog so you run the risk of spending plenty of time reading it.
.