Landslip claims permitted

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32430, 17 October 1970, Page 3

Landslip claims permitted

(From Our Own Reporter) WELLINGTON, Oct. 16. Changes in the Earthquake and War Damage Regulations mean that householders may now claim for damage caused by landslips, said the member of Parliament for Lyttelton (Mr T. M. McGuigan) today. Since July 17, any householder who has a fife insurance policy with a New Zealand firm is insured for damage caused by earthquakes, war, or landslips under the Earthquake and War Damage Commission. Regarding landslips, the value of the insurance is the value of the house at the time of the damage, or the insurance cover, wihch ever is less. The new regulations cover damage to a house, so that matters such as resiting and stabilisation of the slip are not covered. The removal of debris is covered to the extent that it is necessary to repair the damage caused to the house by the slip. Mr McGuigan said: “This new regulation means that provided one’s house was built in accordance with the by-laws and has been reasonably maintained, one is covered for virtually the total cost of any damage caused by a landslip.” “I am very pleased that this step has been taken by the commission,” he said. “It will provide for much needed cover for many people in the Christchurch area.” A franchise payable by the owner of a house to the value of I per cent of the damage, with a minimum of $2OO, was “an unfortunate provision” but the measure as a whole was a step in the right direction, he said.