The owners of 27 Auckland townhouses have been left in limbo after contractors walked off the building site following the collapse of Corbel Construction.
Photo: 123rf
Christchurch-based Corbel Construction is in liquidation after a dispute with a client.
The company had six projects underway in Christchurch and Auckland, and employed 13 staff.
The building company was refurbishing the leaky houses at 955 Mount Eden Road in Auckland.
The company's collapse is another blow to the homeowners who have been dealing with ongoing construction issues for about four years.
One homeowner, a single mother who wishes to remain anonymous, said the homeowners have been renting elsewhere for 16 months while work was underway.
The homeowners were "gobsmacked" over news the company had folded.
"We're just really, really scared about what's next for us, it's just terrible."
She said they have each spent upwards of a quarter of a million dollars on repairs.
The residents are now unsure when they can move back into their homes and how much more money they'll be forced to spend on top of rent and mortgages, she said.
"You just feel like you have no control over the situation."
Some homeowners were already struggling to pay the repair bills, on top of other costs.
"If there is already people then who were going to lose their homes, just imagine now that it's gone the next step."
She said last Monday she was sent another bill for $52,000, on top of what she has paid.
"Luckily, one small saving grace is that I hadn't paid that part of it yet."
There are fears over how soon another contractor can be found, especially in the lead up to Christmas, she said.