Target those in real need
The Healthy Homes Bill was defeated last week and Peter Malcolm of Closing the Gap is completely wrong to say that
Government rejected this bill to save landlords money.
The bill would have required landlords to meet standards, to be set by Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, for
insulation and heating. The fact is, that any increase in the cost of providing rental property to New Zealanders is
highly likely to be added directly to the weekly rental price. The reason is that rental prices in many areas of New
Zealand have not risen for years.
In addition, a blanket wide minimum standard for all rental properties in New Zealand is not the answer for poor
families with children living in cold damp houses. Rather than applying regulations and the associated costs to all
rental property, some better analysis of the situation is needed.
The problem is complex. For example, if the occupants of an insulated property don't turn on the heating, then the
property will still remain cold and damp. If they keep their curtains closed and don't let in the sun, or leave wet
clothes inside on drying racks, or keep their windows closed, the house will remain cold and damp.
Any solution needs to be targeted to those in real need – those children suffering ill health from cold damp houses -
otherwise funds will be spent were they are not needed.
An Otago Medical School study says that Government saves $4 for every $1 spent on heating and insulation for low income
households. This is an excellent return on tax payers’ dollars. Rental property owners should be encouraged to install
insulation and heating by making these tax deductible expenses.
Alternatively Government could target low income households with children by giving grants to ensure their houses have
insulation and energy efficient heating. This would reduce the need for rental price increases.
Another Otago Medical School study shows that fuel poverty is a major problem for low income households. Government
could help targeted families with an initiative like electricity vouchers over the winter months to encourage them to
turn on their heating.
Finally there could be more education about how households can keep their homes warmer and drier, so that their actions
are improving their living conditions, not making them worse.
Some tenants need to be advised of their rights in order to achieve action if poor maintenance of their rental property
is causing it to be cold and damp. The Residential Tenancies Act will enable tenants to get this action.
There needs to be a wide variety of solutions because houses are cold and damp for many reasons. People need to realise
that imposing minimum standards and regulations could actually make peoples' lives worse. This action could result in
increased rental prices making it harder for tenants to turn on their heaters, for example, and achieve a reasonable
standard of living.
ENDS