Victims of failed Canberra builder Andara Homes have begun to receive insurance payouts, as a liquidator struggles to find the company's director nearly three months after being appointed.
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Trade creditors are known to be owed more than a combined $150,000, with home owners' claims to the liquidator likely to be many times that figure, but hopes for receiving payments from the company wind-up remain low.
Michelle Mallitt said she was one of two home owners she knew who had received confirmation in recent weeks they would receive the maximum QBE Insurance payout of $85,000.
At least three others were waiting on decisions, she said.
The money would allow her to get her home – which she moved into mid-year – closer to the way it should have been when due for completion 21 months ago.
"There are a number of defects to be rectified, I don't have any window furnishings, there's lots of carpentry, plastering and landscaping to be done," she said.
The mother of four said she had lodged documents with the Brisbane liquidators seeking about $170,000 from Andara, but when she last spoke to the liquidators several weeks ago they had not had any response from Simon Anderson, the sole director of the company since April 2013.
"There are so many people in Canberra that have gone 'what's the point, he's just going to get away with it, and has'," she said.
Canberra solicitor Rod Barnett, who continues to represent some Andara clients, said the liquidator would usually seek an oral examination of a company director to determine what assets there were and whether there had been insolvent trading or improper payments of money by the company.
"[But] they are having trouble serving him," he said.
"There are certainly assets of the company that may be recoverable."
Mr Anderson's personal building licence was not renewed this month.
Ms Mallitt said she and several other Andara home owners were still waiting to receive requested termite certificates from a pest company, a required step to obtain a full certificate of occupancy, with the liquidator supporting the home owners' calls.
The liquidator, unable to be reached this week, was appointed by the Queensland Supreme Court on October 3 after a wind-up application by a company trading as Harvey Norman Commercial Division Taren Point.
Mr Anderson, who has always denied any wrongdoing, did not respond to Sunday Canberra Times messages to his last known contact details this week.
There was also no response from his last known solicitor.
Mr Anderson's brother, Shane, who runs his own Canberra building company after ending his time as an Andara co-director in April 2013, said he was unaware where Simon Anderson was living or working and was not in communication with him.
