Home sustainability assessors left financially out of pocket by the suspension of the government’s flawed Green Loans scheme are threatening to file a class action law suit over their losses.

According to a campaign website set up by a group of assessors, at least 180 people who have incurred debts as a result of the scheme’s training, insurance, registration and equipment costs have signed up for the suit.

The Canberra Times yesterday reported that Fieldforce, the biggest business operating under the loans program, is also seeking compensation, claiming changes to the scheme have put 500 jobs at risk.

The government axed the loans component of the scheme last month. It also said the number of assessors would  be capped at 5000, with each assessor able to conduct only five home audits a week.