The Institute of Surveyors is calling on the Earthquake Commission to use registered professional surveyors when assessing some earthquake damaged houses in Christchurch.
It had requested an urgent meeting with the Earthquake Commission in July after concerns were raised by an independent surveyor that thousands of homeowners could have been misled by incorrect floor tilt measurements.
President-elect Jeff Needham said the institute has concerns about how floor levels in quake-damaged Christchurch homes are being measured.
He says it has now met with the Commission and discussions are ongoing, but it is already recommending registered surveyors - rather than just trade certified builders and an estimator - be used in the process.
"We would be keen to see registered surveyors called in where the verticality and floor levels are critical to understanding the situation of a building after an earthquake."
Mr Needham believes the Earthquake Commission should review its procedures and methodologies to obtain accurate results.
But the Commission's manager for the Canterbury Home Repair Programme, Reid Stiven, said its methods are robust.
"We've been into almost every home in Canterbury that's had a claim at least twice, and we have a third check by an independent contractor accredited to the programme who goes out and has a look as part of our scoping and quoting processes."
He said there are a number of checks and balances within the process that give him confidence the Commission is getting it right.
Mr Needham said he expects to have further discussions with the commission about this matter.
