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Using Weathertight Services

WHRS Claim Process.

WHRS claims involve two processes: assessment and resolution.

Assessment

  • The WHRS claim is allocated to a claims advisor who will establish whether the claim is capable of meeting the eligibility criteria (see Bringing a WHRS claim).
  • If it is accepted, we will appoint an expert assessor to investigate the house or complex and provide a report to us. The claimant can choose between two kinds of report. The different types of assessor’s report will be explained to them. A full assessor’s report costs $500 for a stand-alone property or single unit claim, $1000 for a duplex (2 units) or $1500 for a multi-unit complex. An eligibility assessor’s report is free of charge.
  • Following the assessment, the Chief Executive of the Department of Building and Housing will make a decision on whether the claim is eligible to proceed to the resolution stage. If in the assessor’s opinion the claim is ineligible the claimant will be given a chance to make a submission to the Chief Executive on eligibility before a decision is made (see Guidelines for claimant submissions).
  • If the claim is decided ineligible and the claimant disagrees with the decision, they can appeal to the Chair of the Weathertight Homes Tribunal to have the eligibility of their claim reconsidered.

Resolution

  • The aim is to establish who is liable for the damage and what compensation they should make.
  • During this process the claimant make claims against parties they think are responsible for their loss (for example, damage to their house or complex).
  • The resolution process may involve negotiation, mediation or adjudication.
  • There are two separate resolution paths available depending on the value of the WHRS claim: the lower-value WHRS claims process for those claims where the estimate or actual repairs costs are $20,000 or less, and the standard WHRS claims process for all other claims.
  • The WHRS claim is resolved when a solution is agreed by those involved.

Claimants may choose to undertake repairs at any point of the WHRS claims process. Repairing the house before proceeding to resolution allows the claimant to rely on receipts for the actual cost of repairs in their claim. See the section on repairs and maintenance for more details.