Desperate property-owners in earthquake-ravaged Christchurch are calling for an independent advocate to help them deal with insurance companies and the Earthquake Commission (EQC).

The issue became heated in the lead-up to last weekend’s national election and followed the extension of the “red zone” damage area to 400 more homes.

“We are being taken to the cleaners,” said the Reverend Mike Coleman, a spokesman for the Wider Earthquake Communities Action Group.

“There is a need to address the imbalance of power between the householder and the big corporates and government agencies. It’s time for some transparency, honesty and accountability.”

Some Christchurch residents who are unhappy with assessments made by insurance companies and the EQC are also turning to independent assessors to help negotiate settlements over the cost of rebuilding and repairs.

Chief among the complaints is the difference between rebuilding and repairing a damaged house, and the value of a house in the Red Zone.

An EQC spokesman told insuranceNEWS.com.au that customers are free to consult with whoever they want.

“If a customer says we’ve missed a whole lot of stuff then it can be addressed during the repair process,” he said. “There are a lot of ways we can handle differences between assessment and insurers.”

He says the EQC has handled more than 150,000 assessments since February.

The Reserve Bank of New Zealand recently put the damage bill from the series of earthquakes at $NZ30 billion ($22.91 billion).

The EQC estimates claims will cost it more than $7 billion ($5.35 billion) after the High Court of NZ ruled the commission must cover households for each of the earthquake events.