Nearly half of all residents who own apartments in the Opal Tower are still unable to return to their homes.

Residents in 169 of 400 apartments are still shut out of the building after they were initially forced out last year when major defects were discovered.

Some have been forced to pay for their own temporary accommodation as compensation from the builder runs out.

Chairman of the Owners Corporation Network, Stephen Goddard, says those residents are suffering.

“I’ve spoken to new first-home purchasers in that building who paid $800,000 for a one-bedroom apartment on a 90 per cent borrow from the bank.

“They are not living there and they’re still paying their mortgage.

“You have more consumer protection buying a refrigerator than a million dollar apartment.”

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