The complete answer for warm dry homes

Wednesday, 27 January 2016, 5:23 pm
Press Release: Community Housing Aotearoa

The complete answer for warm dry homes

Community Housing Aotearoa says that insulation is only half the answer in improving rental housing and that you still need to heat the house.

"In fact it isn't even half the answer" says NZ Property Investors' Federation Executive Officer, Andrew King. "Not only do you need a source of heating, you need to turn the heating on and you need to know how to ventilate your home to keep it dry."

Members of Property Investors’ Associations around the country (seewww.nzpif.org.nz for details) have already insulated 92% of their rental properties. However even when they install energy efficient heating, such as heat pumps, some of their properties still show signs of being cold and damp.

Members say that tenants are often not using their heaters and are inadvertently making their properties harder to heat. Examples of why this can occur are not opening curtains during the day to let sunlight heat their home, drying clothes inside and using unflued portable gas heaters.

"Insulation is a great first step, but heating and ventilation are just as important in creating a warm, dry and healthy home" says King. "Solutions need to be cost effective, otherwise rents will rise higher than they need to, making it even harder for tenants to turn on their heaters."

A University of Otago study showed that Government saves $5 for every $1 spent on insulation and heating. By making these items tax deductible, Government would reduce the impact on rising rental prices and make savings on health expenditure.

Forcing landlords to increase their existing insulation is expensive with little real improvement in efficacy. Making insulation compulsory with existing insulation at 1978 levels will result in warmer houses and far fewer rental price increases.

ENDS

© Scoop Media

Community Housing Aotearoa

Nga Wharerau o Aotearoa

Community Housing Aotearoa is the peak body for New Zealand's community housing sector. Our 110 members build and manage affordable and social housing.

Our Vision is to make sure every New Zealander is well-housed in a warm, safe, dry and affordable home. This is a basic human right.

We work to support the growth and development of community housing providers to enable them to provide affordable and social housing.

We want to demonstrate that community housing is a critical element alongside private and government owned housing. No one can do it alone.

Community Housing Aotearoa aims to:

1. be the voice of the community housing sector
2. build capacity and foster collaboration
3. promote best practice in housing policy
4. champion quality and excellence.

Contact Community Housing Aotearoa

• Website - communityhousing.org.nz/
• Our Place - Learn how we think this can be achieved
• Phone - +64 4 385 8722
• About us - Our 2021 annual report is online here
• Email - support@communityhousing.org.nz
• Link - Members directory
• Physical Address - Level 11, Ranchhod Tower, 39 The Terrace/102-112 Lambton Quay, Wellington