Throughout New Zealand, leaky homes are a well-documented feature of the property market, particularly in homes built during between the early 90s and mid 2000s.

"Here in Wanaka, we haven’t seen many ‘leaky’ homes; but they are out there,” First National’s Lynette Winsloe said.

It was the Building Act 1991, which came into effect about 1994, that changed building controls from a prescriptive system to a more self-regulated regime. At around the same time, the government dropped the apprentice training system for builders and the related building trades. The effect: some houses built weren’t weathertight, which can cause rot, mould and dampness in the building.

The Building Act 1991 was replaced by the Building Act 2004 in an effort to prevent the problem from recurring. It introduced a licensing scheme for building designers, builders and related trades. Councils were required to be registered with a central authority and were to be subject to regular quality control procedure checks.

Although homes built now aren’t as susceptible to being leaky, homes from this era in New Zealand can have ongoing problems. Plaster homes (homes with monolithic cladding) are most susceptible to being leaky.

"I believe that our dry climate has delayed these issues coming to the fore in the short term, but eventually they will be found out,” Lynette said. "We find that some people, especially if they are from Auckland or a similar climate, won’t even consider a monolithic property.”

Whether you’re buying, selling or living in a home from this era, it pays to look carefully for signs of a leaky home.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment tells you to look for these signs

• sagging of ceiling linings
• corrosion of fixings such as screws and nails
• uneven floor surfaces, like the lifting of vinyl
• mould or fungi formation on surfaces (although this is often due to poor ventilation)
• musty smells
• swollen materials such as skirtings and architraves
• staining or discolouration of materials or surfaces
• stained or rotting carpet, or rusting of carpet fixings.

If a home has some or all of these features it does not necessarily mean it’s a leaky home, but it is worth getting it checked. If you own a home that has signs of being leaky, it’s time to figure out your next step for resolving the issue, before things get worse.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has detailed information about what do if you’re at risk of owning a leaking home. Click MORE below to find out what you can do. Lynette provides some advice for buyers and sellers concerned about leaky homes. For buyers she suggests: "They should specifically mention their concerns to the Building Inspector and ensure that he uses a thermal imaging camera.

Another term for thermal imaging is ‘infrared thermography’. Thermography is a non-contact, non-invasive and real time way to detect excessive temperature variations, heat loss, moisture and air infiltration and equipment failure...This technology is extremely useful for finding leaks, missing insulation, electrical faults, preventative maintenance and other issues.”

Buyers should also be aware that agents and sellers are required to share any existing problems with a house to prospective buyers. "We always endeavour to find out the type of cladding on a property, plus whether there is cavity system in place. And of course this is all passed onto the buyer,” Lynette said. Even if your home isn’t from the leaky homes era, it pays to keep an eye out for the signs of leaks listed above. Houses from all eras can develop leaks, and the sooner you catch them, the less damage you’re likely to incur.

PHOTO: Supplied