In its Build magazine, The Building Research Association of New Zealand (BRANZ) has confirmed something that migrants have been saying for years; houses in New Zealand are built in a way that encourages damp and many houses are in need of maintenance.

BRANZ inspectors surveyed 565 owner-occupied houses. They reported that the average bill to bring the houses up to scratch would be $3,700. This is an improvement on 1999 when BRANZ found the average house in New Zealand needed almost $5,000 worth of repairs.

Dampness was the most serious concern for the inspectors. Poor ventilation and cladding were the most common cause of dampness. The inspectors found that 43 percent of homes had inadequate under-floor ventilation and as a result could suffer from dampness, fungus, borers (woodworm type infestations) and decay.