The assessment of nearly 1000 Otago homes damaged in Christchurch's earthquakes should be completed before Christmas.
The Canterbury event manager, Reid Stiven, from the Earthquake Commission (EQC), said the commission received about 2000 claims for damage from properties outside Canterbury, mainly in Otago.
Most of those were from Dunedin (476 claims) with the next hardest-hit area Waitaki (274).
The remainder of the 960 claims from Otago came from across the province.
Mr Stiven said large teams would begin assessments of houses from Invercargill to Marlborough as the EQC sought to wrap up all South Island earthquake claims.
"Assessments were originally set to begin in early 2012, but I'm confident that with progress on Christchurch assessments so well advanced, assessors will be able to start visiting houses further afield before Christmas."
Homeowners from outside Canterbury with claims would receive a letter this week advising them that a member of EQC's field staff would be in touch to organise an assessment.
"We are aware this call may come up at short notice, and would appreciate those homeowners making the property available to us."
Mr Stiven said he expected the assessments outside Canterbury also to be completed by Christmas.
EQC was also on target to complete the few thousand homes in greater Christchurch still to be assessed before Christmas.
