Owners of Ponsonby’s 63-unit Blake Central are the latest to be blighted by the leaky-building disaster.

The block at 17 Blake St near Jervois Rd has cladding defects, which resulted in mould and fungal growths including the dangerous stachybotrys.

Water has damaged a lift shaft and carpets and rotted timber balustrades, now replaced with steel. All cladding needs to be stripped off and rotten timber replaced. About $250,000 has been spent on temporary measures.

The owners have filed an $11.7 million claim in the High Court at Auckland against the Auckland City Council, Clark Brown Architects and Carson Group.

Peri Hoskins, Blake Central’s barrister from newly-formed specialist leaky-building practice Hoskins Thorn, said $1,633,500 of the claim was for stigma. This was an unusual move but an attempt to recognise sale difficulties even after the work is finished, he said.

“Buyers will either not buy a once-leaky home or they expect to pay less for such a home despite the fact that the repair work has been carried out and the home apparently no longer leaks,” he said.