More west Auckland homeowners have been blind-sided by news that their front and back yards don't meet resource consents requirements and have been hit with bills stretching into the thousands. Some properties in the Kumeu development were purchased over a year ago, and owners says neither their real estate agents nor lawyers told them that their homes weren't fully consented. The developer is now in liquidation, and the council has come after the homeowners to pick up the tab. Lucy Xia reports.