An affected Accessible Properties tenant, who spoke on the condition she was not named, told the\u00a0Bay of Plenty Times\u00a0she first noticed black mould in her home about 11 years ago and told her tenancy manager at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe next minute, I had a couple of painters in, painting that room.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt did stop it for a while, but then it came back again.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said black mould grew in the bathroom and laundry.<\/p>\n
The woman moved to another Jacaranda Close home in 2022.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere was no sign of any mould in that, but there was on the outside.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said testing revealed \u201cwater was getting in\u201d, and she was told in August she had to move out.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was just basically a bloody bombshell.\u201d<\/p>\n
She moved out \u201cnot knowing what the heck was going on\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was more in shock than anything else.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman said she was now living in another Accessible Properties home in Tauranga.<\/p>\n
\u2018Major structural issues\u2019 found after weathertightness testing<\/p>\n
The woman received a letter from Accessible Properties tenancy services general manager Tania Wilson on August 18 informing her she needed to move to temporary accommodation for her health and safety.<\/p>\n
Accessible Properties would help her move her possessions before her tenancy was terminated on August 25.<\/p>\n
The letter, sighted by the\u00a0Bay of Plenty Times,\u00a0said an \u201cindependent expert report\u201d advised the property had \u201cmajor structural issues\u201d, making it \u201cuninhabitable and unsafe to live in\u201d.<\/p>\n
It said Accessible Properties did \u201cextensive weathertightness testing\u201d after one property became vacant.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe results for that property raised serious concerns, so we undertook similar testing in the other eight properties with monolithic cladding in the complex.\u201d<\/p>\n
Investigations revealed weathertightness issues.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn several areas, the timber framing is damaged, and in some parts, it is so advanced that it raises concerns about the structural integrity of the buildings.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese issues pose potential safety risks.\u201d<\/p>\n
Accessible Properties ended all tenancies at the affected properties due to the seriousness of the issues.<\/p>\n
Remediation, redevelopment or sale of site considered<\/p>\n
In a statement to the\u00a0Bay of Plenty Times, Wilson said one of its properties became vacant in July.<\/p>\n
\u201cGiven the age, design, and cladding of the properties, we took the opportunity … to carry out more extensive weathertightness testing than would have been possible while tenants were living there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the testing and an in-depth building survey revealed significant damage, we met with all tenants on August 5 to share the findings and explain that a structural engineer\u2019s assessment was still to come.\u201d<\/p>\n
Once the report confirmed concerns with the buildings\u2019 structural integrity, it was required under the Residential Tenancies Act to issue seven-day notices on August 18, she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand how disruptive and unsettling this was.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson said most tenants chose to move immediately to either temporary or permanent accommodation. A small number remained for the full notice period.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe arranged all the accommodation to support people through the transition.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson said all 11 tenants were now settled in permanent accommodation Accessible Properties had found for them in Tauranga \u2013 two with other providers and the rest in Accessible Properties homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe covered their moving costs and have stayed in close contact with them to make sure everyone is well settled.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re currently working through next steps for the properties, which could include remediation, redevelopment or sale of the site.\u201d<\/p>\n
Wilson said Accessible Properties informed K\u0101inga Ora of the issues in July.<\/p>\n
![\"Tenants](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/73RQOD4HF5G3PHORNTARRKMOP4.jpg\")
Tenants of nine K\u0101inga Ora homes in Tauranga moved out in August as the agency investigated “weathertightness issues” at its properties on Jacaranda Close in Brookfield. Photo \/ Ayla Yeoman<\/p>\n
A K\u0101inga Ora spokesperson confirmed Accessible Properties advised the agency in July about the weathertightness issues it had identified in homes similar to those K\u0101inga Ora owned at Jacaranda Close.<\/p>\n
\u201cSince then, we have been working alongside Accessible Properties on next steps.\u201d<\/p>\n
K\u0101inga Ora central region deputy chief executive Daniel Soughtton told the\u00a0Bay of Plenty Times\u00a0last month the next steps for the homes could include remediation, redevelopment or potential divestment of the site.<\/p>\n
The spokesperson this week said there was no update on what would happen to the homes.<\/p>\n