94 percent WOF failure rate shows test is silly

Blogger David Farrar’s conclusion that a 94 percent failure rate shows that a proposed warrant of fitness checklist for rental properties is a silly test that should ring alarm bells is 100 percent accurate, Mike Butler of NZCPR said today.

More than 140 rental properties in Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin were assessed earlier this year to test a range of criteria that could be included in a housing WOF.

But a test which sees 94 percent of properties fail for no battery in a smoke alarm (tenant issue), hot water not within the defined range, changing light bulbs, and handrails not complying with the current building code, is just some sort of unworldly wish-list.

The steering committee says that compliance for the properties checked would be simple and cost less than $150 but is silent on the cost of a regular inspection and says nothing on the cost of installing a heat pump or compliant woodburner should that be required, Mr Butler said.

We reject the implication contained in the press release from the group, that includes five councils, the Accident Compensation Corporation, New Zealand Green Building Council and the University of Otago, that landlords support a WOF when our polling shows significant opposition.

Mr Farrar agrees with us that the high failure rate should ring major warning bells that the proposed WOF checklist would push up costs and rents for every tenant and landlord in New Zealand, Mr Butler said.

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