Rob Doney says EQC failed to assess and repair earthquake damage to his Waltham property.

Rob Doney​ was looking forward to selling his ex-wife's rental property and moving on.

But then an engineer found major structural faults with the Waltham home's foundation and the would-be buyers backed out.

More than two years later, Doney says he is stuck with a poorly-repaired property that "nobody will do anything about".

STACY SQUIRES/FAIRFAX NZ A group of Canterbury homeowners say substandard repairs to rubble ring foundations could cause long-term legacy issues.

He blames the Earthquake Commission (EQC), but the agency says there is "no indication" it missed any damage.

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Doney said EQC's first scope of works put the property close to the $100,000 damage cap and suggested a replacement ring foundation was needed.

DAVID WALKER/FAIRFAX NZ EQC Fix project coordinator Melanie Tobeck-Bourke speaks at a public meeting about EQC.

But EQC reassessed the home and the level of work needed was reduced in the second scope of works, Doney said.

"It went from needing a new foundation to just needing a jack and pack and a few new piles."

Doney is among the owners of homes with rubble foundations in the EQC Fix group.

The group estimates about 10,000 pre-1970s homes could be non-compliant and have structural flaws.

Doney opted out of EQC's home repair programme because the property was tenanted and he wanted flexibility around when repairs would be undertaken.

About $27,000 worth of work was carried out, he said.

"At the time, I just trusted they were professionals and knew what they were doing. I think a lot of people in Christchurch did."

Once the repairs were completed, he put the property on the market and quickly received an offer.

"All was going well . . . but then a distraught agent phoned me saying [the couple] had pulled out because they found there was $70,000 of foundation repairs to be done."

Bayleys refused to re-list the property given the new information, Doney said.

He was unable to obtain a copy of the report the couple commissioned so he contracted a builder to check the foundation.

Doney claimed parts of the jack and pack were non-compliant, the foundation had large cracks in it and the floors were not level.

"It was EQC's scope. It's like they try to cut corners to keep costs down and all of us are left in the poo with substandard fixes."

EQC said there was "no indication" it had missed any earthquake damage.

Doney said his calls to the construction firm that did the work had gone unanswered.

An EQC spokesman said if further damage was discovered while repairs were under way then EQC would revisit the scope of works, undertake an assessment and determine if further payment was required.

"In this case, the customer disputed their opt-out settlement in August 2015 by submitting another building report.

"EQC found there was no indication of missed earthquake-related damage in this report, and EQC declined it in October 2015."

EQC Fix project coordinator Mel Bourke believed EQC had failed to recognise rubble foundations from the outset and had not met its obligation to repair to a "when new" standard.

Substandard work to older homes – which make up a significant chunk of Christchurch's housing stock – could create long-term legacy issues in the city, she said.

The group is compiling information about rubble foundation repairs through its website and on August 11 it will launch the 'EQC Justice Project' at the Transitional Cathedral.

It hopes to help homeowners worried about failed repairs, the value of their home and the six-year limitation period on claims.