The institute has welcomed the leader of the opposition’s proposed legislation and says it would improve the quality of New Zealand’s housing stock
.jpg)
The institute has welcomed the leader of the opposition’s proposed legislation and says it would improve the quality of New Zealand’s housing stock.
The bill passed its second reading last week and REINZ says that the legislation would build on requirements in the Residential Tenancies Act by ensuring warm and dry homes.
“There are significant pockets of New Zealand’s housing stock that is below par by world standards, and any improvement will be of benefit to the health and wellbeing of Kiwis – particularly in relation to respiratory illnesses caused by cold and damp housing e.g. asthma and rheumatic fever which can have significant impacts for children and elderly people,” said Bindi Norwell, CEO at REINZ.
Meanwhile, politicians are of course divided on the impact new legislation would have on the quality of New Zealand’s rental housing stock.
Building and construction minister Nick Smith says that if the bill becomes law then it will delay the incoming requirements on landlords to install insulation.
“The odd feature of Andrew Little’s Bill is that it would delay this requirement by more than three years. Clause 2 of the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill has the requirement for landlords to comply with insulation standards come into force five years after the Act receives Royal Assent,” he says.
“Mr Little’s Bill is too little, too late. It is Labour trying to play catch-up on the important issue of insulating rental homes. The reality is it will delay this vital work,” Dr Smith adds.
Andrew Little has hit back: “It is disappointing that National is still kicking and screaming and fighting against this. They have the opportunity to get themselves on the right side of history and back healthy homes through its remaining stages,” says Andrew Little.
The bill passed its second reading last week and REINZ says that the legislation would build on requirements in the Residential Tenancies Act by ensuring warm and dry homes.
“There are significant pockets of New Zealand’s housing stock that is below par by world standards, and any improvement will be of benefit to the health and wellbeing of Kiwis – particularly in relation to respiratory illnesses caused by cold and damp housing e.g. asthma and rheumatic fever which can have significant impacts for children and elderly people,” said Bindi Norwell, CEO at REINZ.
Meanwhile, politicians are of course divided on the impact new legislation would have on the quality of New Zealand’s rental housing stock.
Building and construction minister Nick Smith says that if the bill becomes law then it will delay the incoming requirements on landlords to install insulation.
“The odd feature of Andrew Little’s Bill is that it would delay this requirement by more than three years. Clause 2 of the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill has the requirement for landlords to comply with insulation standards come into force five years after the Act receives Royal Assent,” he says.
“Mr Little’s Bill is too little, too late. It is Labour trying to play catch-up on the important issue of insulating rental homes. The reality is it will delay this vital work,” Dr Smith adds.
Andrew Little has hit back: “It is disappointing that National is still kicking and screaming and fighting against this. They have the opportunity to get themselves on the right side of history and back healthy homes through its remaining stages,” says Andrew Little.
