Tenants to cop cost of upgrades

Private landlords have been given just over two years to ensure rental properties meet the Government’s healthy home standards but it could mean tenants will end up paying more.

Housing and Urban Development Minister Phil Twyford – pictured – yesterday announced the changes, which will require a minimum standard for heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture and drainage in residential rental properties.

Private landlords have until July 1, 2021, to ensure rental properties comply with the standards, while Housing New Zealand and other social housing providers have another two years.

But the New Zealand Property Investors’ Federation (NZPIF) predicted tenants would foot the bill for improvements.

Executive officer Andrew King was supportive of the quality standards but said changes would need to be cost-effective so landlords did not pass them on – though that was unlikely for homes with existing insulation.

‘‘Topping up existing insulation provides very little improvement for tenants but costs almost the same as installing completely new insulation.’’

Heat pumps would increase rental prices by about $15 a week because they were expensive to buy, install, maintain and replace, he added.

Twyford said the average three-bedroom home which did not meet the standards would cost about $7000 to upgrade.

Landlord Lynley Thomas, whose Lyall Bay home the announcement was made in, said she wouldn’t increase rents but imagined others would.

She said the Government’s announcement would be ‘‘great for the wellbeing of tenants . . . from a landlord’s point of view, you don’t like to be told to spend money’’.

The Ministry of Health admitted 6000 children each year for ‘‘housing-sensitive hospitalisations’’, Twyford said.

The next step is for the standards to be drafted in regulations and approved by Cabinet. The regulations will become law by mid-2019.