A new report puts the cost of having to fix defects in new house builds at $2.5b each year.
The figure's been hammered out by the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research in an analysis of direct costs to the construction industry of quality defects, as well as the indirect effects on productivity and housing supply.
So when and were do the defects occur?
And what would be the benefits of eliminating them?
Kathryn discusses with the research's co-author Michael Bealing from NZIER and Matt Curtis, from the Building Research Association of New Zealand.
Photo: Romolo Tavani/123RF
