Defective concrete homeowners reject Minister’s response over appeal delays

Homeowners affected by defective concrete have expressed disappointment at a less than fulsome response from Minister for Housing James Brown to correspondence they submitted last month over problems they faced when dealing with the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel.

They have written again to the Minister saying that his response, which was issued by his private secretary, failed to address the specific concerns they raised about delays and a lack of communication within the Defective Concrete Blocks Appeals Panel.

The group says the Minister’s reply outlined the statutory independence of the Appeals Panel, but did not explain why many appeals are taking more than two years to complete, why appellants are receiving little or no information, or whether any timelines or performance standards apply.

“We fully understand that the Appeals Panel is independent in how it makes its decisions,” a spokesperson said. “But families are still entitled to know why appeals are taking so long and when they can expect some clarity.”

Many homeowners have now been waiting more than two years without any meaningful update on their appeals.

In numerous cases, emails and letters sent to the chair of the appeals panel seeking basic information have gone unanswered. During this time, families remain unable to repair, sell, insure or refinance their homes, and all the while building costs continue to rise.

The group says it felt necessary to write again because the initial response did not engage with these practical concerns and left key questions unanswered.

Homeowners are also concerned that some appeals which have progressed have been referred back to the Housing Agency for reassessment, effectively returning families to a system they have already spent years navigating and raising fears of further delay.

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In their latest correspondence, the group refers to provisions in the defective concrete blocks legislation which allow for ministerial oversight to ensure the Appeals Panel is functioning effectively. They say this shows that independence does not remove the need for accountability where a statutory process is not working as intended.

Homeowners are now asking the Minister to explain why so few appeals have been decided to date, whether any time-frame applies, and what steps will be taken to ensure appeals are dealt with in a reasonable and transparent way.

“People have been extremely patient,” the spokesperson said. “All we are looking for now are clear answers and a process that works.”