(No 2) - Setting standards for heating and insulating rental properties

The Government is seeking comment on the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill which proposes to introduce a new set of minimum standards of heating and insulation for rental properties in New Zealand.

Currently, landlords have obligations under the Residential Tenancies Act with respect to the properties they let out. However, there is no guidance about the specific standards they must meet to ensure warm and dry accommodation.

The requirement to meet the standards proposed in the bill would apply to all tenancy agreements made within a year of the Act coming into force. The natural process of tenant turnover would see most tenancy agreements containing the requirement by the end of 5 year when all residential tenancies must meet the standards.

The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment will set the standards and landlords would be required to meet them.

Please click here to be redirected to the bill.

Feedback due: Please send feedback to marilynh@nzno.org.nz  by 16 June 2016