Phil Twyford
MP for Te Atatū
Housing Spokesperson

MEDIA STATEMENT

30 March 2017

Kiwi renters subjected to damp and mouldy homes

New data shows that too many Kiwis are being exposed to damp, cold, mouldy and frankly dangerous homes because landlords aren’t maintaining their homes, says Labour’s Housing spokesperson Phil Twyford.

“The latest survey from Barfoot and Thompson shows that the average amount a landlord spends is $978 per year in Auckland.

“This is nearly $500 less than the average yearly maintenance bill for New Zealand homes according to Statistics NZ Household Economic Survey, which shows the average household spends $1,414.40 per year.

“Given the Statistics NZ survey includes both renters and owners, there’s a significant different between what home owners and landlords spend on their properties in maintenance.

“The most recent BRANZ house condition survey from 2010 showed that 44 per cent of rental homes are in poor condition compared to just 25% of owner-occupied properties.

“The picture this presents is clear: while there are many excellent landlords, on average landlords simply aren’t spending enough to keep their rental properties to a good enough standard.

“Too many New Zealanders are living in cold damp mouldy substandard rental homes because landlords aren’t keeping their properties up to a good enough standard.

“The Government is letting landlords off the hook. Labour won’t. Only a Labour-led Government will introduce a healthy homes guarantee to ensure houses are warm, dry, and healthy,” says Phil Twyford.

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