A man who has had experience negotiating with the Taliban claims insurer Southern Response is worse to deal with.

The Christchurch earthquakes caused extensive damage to Karl and Rebecca Maddaford's home - including liquefaction.

Their home is now riddled with 14 types of toxic black mould and the Maddafords claim a lack of action from insurer Southern Response has led to all of their possessions becoming contaminated.

Southern Response now says the family's contents aren't covered.

During his time working with the UN in Afghanistan, Karl Maddaford struck a deal with Taliban leaders to work in an area under their control.

He claimed they proved more trustworthy than Southern Response.

"It's kind of interesting that I was able to quite literally able to put my life in the hands of these people in Afghanistan and they honoured their obligation under what we'd talked about.

"Yet I can't get that talking to an insurance company in Christchurch."

Karl Maddaford said three years ago they were forced to move out with nothing but the clothes on their backs. 

"We're living in a house where everything has been given to us [or] leant to us by friends, family, or we've got it from garage sales or wherever because we don't know what can be saved or can't be saved."

When they lived in the home, Karl Maddaford says the family was always sick - and he drew a line when his son's hair started to fall out.