Government not doing enough for rental properties, says building expert

It was announced earlier this week that Nelson City Council may implement a compulsory warrant of fitness (WoF) for rental properties, which Aidan Jury of Jennian Homes says signifies the New Zealand Government is not doing enough for those living in rented accommodation.

Dunedin and Wellington City Councils are both trialling WoF schemes currently. These trials will be assessed in May before a WoF for rental properties is confirmed for Nelson.

Jury says: “These are great steps forward and we commend these councils. However, there should be a national initiative coming from Parliament, rather than from individual councils, so all New Zealanders can be assured that the properties they are renting are warm, dry and safe.”

Jury continues: “Certain New Zealand centres are suffering housing crises, where rents are sky-high, resulting in families living in damp, mouldy and uninhabitable conditions. This is why there needs to be a national regulation, so every region and city is accounted for and no home falls through the gaps.”

In addition to a WoF for rentals, Jury says homes should require a WoF before they are sold. “You wouldn’t buy a car without a WoF approving it is fit to drive, so why would you purchase a house without the same guarantee?”

Despite opponents of a WoF claiming it will cost too much, Jury says it will actually cost more if a WoF scheme is not put in place nationally. “It’s too expensive not to implement one. Consider the savings that could be made on ACC, hospitalisation, insurance pay-outs and doctors bills if we were all living in healthy, warm, dry homes.”

Jury concludes: “Jennian Homes is a new homebuilder, so a WoF on older homes has no benefit to our business. However, we have been building houses in New Zealand for more than 30 years and therefore have the experience and expertise, as well as the responsibility, to make a stand on this issue.

“The Government needs to take action and stand up for the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders.”

The Nelson news comes just days after it was announced by Building and Housing Minister Dr Nick Smith, that although all rental properties must have insulation by 2019, properties with existing insulation only need to meet 2001 building standards, rather than having to upgrade to the new standard that was established in 2008.

ENDS

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