On 15 August 2019 the Government announced a policy that allows owners of on-sold over-cap properties in Canterbury to apply for an ex gratia Government payment to have their homes repaired.
If you’ve bought a home in Canterbury and discovered that it is damaged over the EQC cap, you may be eligible for an ex gratia payment to cover the cost of repair.
Under the policy, you will have twelve months (no later than 14 August 2020) to register your interest for the ex gratia payment. After that time, the policy will not be available.
If you qualify you may be able to receive an ex gratia payment equal to the agreed cost of repair.
To qualify for the support package, you’ll need to meet the following criteria:
- You have purchased a property in Canterbury after 4 September 2010 (the date of the first 7.1 magnitude Canterbury earthquake) and on or before the announcement of this support package on 15 August 2019; and
- Before selling the property the previous owner settled a claim with EQC on an under-cap basis; and EQC cover depends on how the natural disaster damage occurred.
- Post-sale you have discovered the property has incomplete or insufficient repairs either as a result of defective repair or through damage which had not been properly assessed; and
- The cost of the repair, together with the amounts previously paid by EQC for the property is more than the EQC cap ($100,000 +GST); an
- You are unable to access private insurance to cover the cost of repairs.
This is will be a welcome resolution to many homeowners but is subject to agreement with EQC as to the extent and cost of necessary repairs.
What is payable under the policy
Where the eligibility criteria are met, payment will be based on a scope of works that takes into account:
- the work required to repair the natural disaster damage in accordance with the EQC Act, and
- any other reasonable cost of that repair work.
We may have settled the original homeowner’s claim by a managed repair (where we undertook the entire repair process), cash payment (where the homeowner receives a cash payment and manages the repair themselves), or a combination of the two.
If a previous homeowner received a cash payment for some or all of the repairs, and those repairs need addressing, you will need to find out who did the work, and what warranties are in place. You can read about warranties on the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s building website
If you find that the repairs have not been carried out, you may need to find out more from the person you bought the home from, and the real estate agent you used to buy the property.
It’s important that any payment you receive is used for repairing or replacing damaged property. Any future insurance claims or cover may be affected if the payment is not used for this purpose.
If you would like to register your interest for the ex gratia payment please use this online on-sold property register of interest form.
Alternatively use our printable register of interest PDF form.
The weather is getting warmer and we are heading into a very busy selling season in the Christchurch real estate market. Harcourts Holmwood have recently announced another Gala Auction on Thursday 28th November from 6pm at our auction rooms (Ground Floor, 397-399 Ilam Road).
The Holmwood Summer Gala Auction packages include special marketing offers that are not to be missed. Speak with one of our consultants today for more information.
Update on the Christchurch real estate market by Hayden Broadbelt
August saw the Reserve Bank of New Zealand drop the official cash rate fifty basis points to 1%. The size of the drop was seen as a surprise by many economists, but greatly welcomed by the housing market as the banks dropped their interest rates following the RBNZ direction. The flow on effect was positive, with first home buyers making their presence felt in the housing market. Reports have shown open home numbers increasing on the back of these favourable lending rates.
Properties for sale across Christchurch continued to be tight as property owners looked towards the warmer months to showcase their properties. Days on market dropped by 6 days to 39 days from last month, demonstrating that strong buyer demand and limited stock availability has increased sales levels. August also saw a 3.3% lift in the median sale price as the trend line continued to go in the right direction. There were 536 properties sold in August, showing an expected seasonal increase.
Anticipation for the Spring rush continues to hold the housing market to ransom as vendors remained in a holding pattern in the hope of achieving above market values for their properties. Their price expectations continue to be a hurdle despite strong buyer demand. Auctions continue to be the preferred vehicle for sale as buyer v buyer will always achieve better results than buyer v vendor.
Of course property listings are the lifeblood of any real estate business and the volume of listings coming into Harcourts across the city continues to track well. Harcourts remains the preferred real estate company in Christchurch with close to every second new property to the market being listed by your city’s favourite real estate brand.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, or are just after some friendly advice, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch or request a no-obligation appraisal by clicking HERE – the team here at Holmwood are ready to help.
From the daffodils that frame Hagley Park and the blossoms that line the Avenues, there really is nowhere quite like Christchurch in the Spring.
And, as the Garden City comes into bloom, the local property market is looking full of life too! Despite winter’s reputation as a quiet time in real estate, the median house price in Christchurch was up in both June and July, compared to the corresponding period last year. The total volume of sales increased across that two-month period as well, with more than a thousand properties changing hands.
These results seem to fly in the face of the narrative circulated by the media in recent weeks. But, it’s important to remember that most of the data used by industry commentators is based on national figures – and those figures are heavily influenced by the Auckland market. If you’re buying and/or selling in Christchurch, the only numbers which really matter are much closer to home.
Given the current momentum of the local market, the coming months are shaping as the ideal time to sell your home. The onset of spring is always the catalyst for sales, with purchasers hustling to complete transactions before Christmas. New job prospects and schooling requirements for 2020 fuel this even further, while the warmer weather and the sunnier days mean homes just look, and feel, that much more appealing.
If you’re thinking about buying or selling, or are just after some friendly advice, then please don’t hesitate to get in touch or request a no-obligation appraisal by clicking HERE – the team here at Holmwood are ready to ‘spring into action’!
Harcourts Holmwood announce sponsorship of the Christchurch Chapter of Good Bitches Baking
Good Bitches Baking (GBB) is a network of people who want to show kindness to those in their communities. They do this by delivering delicious homemade baking to people in the community who are having a hard time.
Their mission; to make Aotearoa the kindest place on earth.
The organisation was started by Wellington friends Nicole Murray and Marie Fitzpatrick in 2014. They founded GBB, in the Kiwi tradition of delivering comforting food in an hour of need, and it has become extremely popular throughout New Zealand. There are now GBB Chapters right across the country with new Chapters starting all the time.
The Christchurch GBB Chapter, led by Sally Clarke, has massive 175 bakers. In July they baked 177 boxes of goodies for different organisations and groups across Christchurch including Battered Women’s Trust, Women and Men’s Night Shelter, Post-Natal Depression Canterbury, Neo-Natal Ward and Dementia Canterbury to name a few. Harcourts Holmwood are absolutely delighted to announce their sponsorship of this thriving Chapter.
“I was so pleased when Sally approached us to sponsor this organisation,” says Harcourts Holmwood CEO, Tony Jenkins. “Good Bitches Baking is a fabulous and very kiwi concept. We can all remember times in our lives when sitting down with a cup of tea and some home-baked treats has provided a moment of reprieve from a difficult situation.”
Click here to find out more about GBB and see how you can volunteer
Spring is fast approaching and we are heading into a very busy selling season in the Christchurch real estate market. Holmwood have recently announced another Gala Auction on Thursday 26th September from 6pm at our auction rooms (Ground Floor, 397-399 Ilam Road).
The Holmwood Spring Gala Auction packages include special marketing offers that are not to be missed. Speak with one of our consultants today for more information.
Burnside High School zone has been extended beyond what it was in 2019 and 2020. It’s now set into Bishopdale and Papanui from the 2022 school year. The Ministry of Education will continue to monitor the roll at Papanui High School, and this overlap area would be one that the school’s zone could withdraw from in the future should they become at risk of overcrowding.
This comes as part of a seven-year project by local principals and boards of trustees to manage enrolments across the city. Seven schools – Burnside High, Hillmorton High, Mairehau High, Papanui High, Riccarton High School, Linwood College, and Haeata Community Campus will amend or implement their enrolment zones.
The four single-sex state high schools – Christchurch Girls’, Christchurch Boys’, Shirley Boys’, and Avonside Girls’ – will have “dual-layer” enrolment schemes where their zones overlap with that of a nearby co-educational school.
Click here to view interactive map of the new Burnside High Zone
Update on the Christchurch real estate market by Hayden Broadbelt
With the much maligned Capital Gains Tax behind us, June saw the welcome return of investors and a positive step forward for a steady Canterbury real estate market. Their presence is particularly prevalent in the apartment sector with many out of town and local investors seeing the Christchurch rebuild as a city where higher yields can be achieved versus other heated New Zealand property markets.
Bank lending and pre-approval rates have risen, providing a welcome return to positive sales growth from this time last year. I’m happy to report that new listings in Canterbury were up 5.7% compared to June 2018. Days on market has stretched to 47 days, up from 40 days in May. This increase is a seasonal stretch as buyers wait for the Spring rush to get a better selection. The median sale price dipped a little to $445,000, encouraging those first home buyers to take advantage of the low interest rates on offer and lack of seasonal demand. Auctions are still seeing strong support from those wishing to sell and purchase in a transparent environment. Our auction rooms remain busy each week, a reflection of the positivity in marketplace.
Property listings are the lifeblood of any real estate business and the volume of listings coming into Harcourts across the city continues to track well. Harcourts remains the preferred company in Christchurch with close to every second new property to the market being listed by your city’s favourite real estate brand.
For more information contact one of our consultants today
The standard response when you’re thinking about selling your home (but are not sure when) is ‘Sell in Spring’. There is plenty of truth that warmer, drier weather and post-winter itchy feet, encourage potential buyers to open homes.
But life doesn’t stop for winter. People still need to move, whether it be for new jobs, for family reasons or just those itchy feet. Even though the weather is cooler, there are some distinct positives to selling your property in winter.
For a start, there are a lot of people who stick to the ‘List in Spring’ rule, which means you have less competition from other sellers in the market at the same time.
Also, if people are willing to make the effort to get out-and-about to view open homes on cold, wet days, then likelihood is that they’re motivated to buy! This is reflected in the latest market statistics showing a median sale price increase of $15,000 compared to last June, and the number of sales up from 488 to 517.
Tips for Selling Your Property in Winter
Use winter staging tricks
A warm fire can be a great asset in the winter; if you have a fireplace, ensure it is lit during an inspection. Blankets can be used on couches and in the bedroom to create a cosy vibe, making buyers feel at home in your property.
Curb appeal
Freshen-up your property by displaying potted flowers to help brighten-up the garden area. Rake fallen leaves, prune bushes with spent leaves and mow your lawn. This will help your property look more vibrant and appealing.
Clean the windows
Most winter days tend to be overcast. Clean windows will allow any sunlight that appears, to beam freely into the indoor space.
Use lighting to your advantage
On dim winter days, you may not have as much natural lighting as you would like. Turn on all of your lamps and lighting fixtures to banish dark corners and give the place a cosy glow.
Keep the heating on
It’s nice to enter a warm place when it’s cold outside, and in addition it will help erase any doubts about whether or not the heating system works. However, do not have it up too high – you don’t want people to feel like they’re walking into a sauna.
Make minor repairs
No matter what time of year you wish to sell your property, you’ll want to prepare for the sale by having a property that’s in proper working order.
For more information contact one of our consultants or request a no-obligation appraisal by clicking HERE
