Council states the scheme is a good start

Auckland Council which runs its own home insulation scheme has welcomed the Government scheme today.

From Scoop:

Government move on rental standards a reasonable first step

Auckland Council – July 9, 2015
Auckland Council’s Deputy Mayor said that the Government’s announcement today of minimum standards for rental housing is a reasonable first step in improving the lot of tenants.

“These proposed changes are an important step in lifting the standard of rental properties, while ensuring tenants have greater rights,” says Auckland’s Deputy Mayor Penny Hulse. “Still, we believe the Government has a clear role in ensuring rental properties meet the standard, rather than the onus being on tenants.

“Enhanced standards will contribute to an improvement in rental housing stock, enabling people to live healthy, safe and productive lives as well as strengthen families and communities and reduce the impacts of child poverty. We would encourage the Government to be still more proactive on this issue.”

The new standards rely on tenants making a complaint about the state of their rental accommodation, says Penny Hulse. Given the shortage of rental housing in Auckland, the Deputy Mayor sees a continuing risk that tenants would be unwilling to complain.

Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith said earlier today that the Residential Tenancies Act will be strengthened to include new requirements for insulation and smoke alarms, while allowing for greater powers to investigate and prosecute landlords for breaking tenancy laws.

Thirty-nine per cent of Auckland households live in non-owner-occupied dwellings, according to 2013 New Zealand Census of Population and Dwellings figures.

Auckland Council, along with partners, last year undertook a successful field trial of a warrant of fitness tool for use in rental housing market.

Other basic standards for rental accommodation should in the future include good weather-tightness, ventilation, lighting, condition of appliances and general building safety.

“Decent curtains are important to keep homes warm, and landlords should also ensure good ventilation to minimise the chance of mould building up,” said Penny Hulse.

Research has shown that rental houses generally have more quality issues (e.g. cold, damp, hard to heat) compared to owner-occupied and that most vulnerable people live in rental housing. Cold and damp housing increases the burden of health issues and unsafe housing has led to more people being injured in the home than anywhere else.

For today’s Government announcement, please see:
https://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/tenancy-law-changes-include-insulation-and-smoke-alarm-requirements

—-ends—–

Source: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/AK1507/S00199/government-move-on-rental-standards-a-reasonable-first-step.htm

“Other basic standards for rental accommodation should in the future include good weather-tightness, ventilation, lighting, condition of appliances and general building safety.”

That would be in line of my own Housing WoF proposed scheme:

Basic WoF for Residential Dwellings. Dwellings to be marked on:

1. Structural Integrity (i.e no leaks, supports compromised, window frames not severely rotted)
2. Electrical wiring and fuse box compliant with current codes
3. Insulation in external walls, roof space and under floors.
4. Heating and ventilation specific to region (e.g. HRV ventilation for Auckland and Northland, Heating Panels for Southland and Otago)
5. Working Smoke Alarm near kitchen and every subsequent level if two storeys or higher

…..

Source: Government Introduces Insulation Scheme For Rentals

So indeed a good start with two of the five points to be implemented. Now for the other three.

Because as it was noted today:

@Dovil
It’s PC gone mad when we require people profiting from renting out houses to make them fit for human habitation.