Latest news with #HealthyHomes
Scoop
24-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Some Landlords, Tenants Unaware Of Healthy Homes Standards Despite Looming Deadline
Liam White can share some horror stories about rental properties in Dunedin. 'I went into a flat and I saw a window – the landlord had cut out the corner wide enough that you could stick your finger through it so they could open the window past a balcony – there was just a constant draught coming in. There's heat pumps that don't work … there's the classic holes in walls, cladding on the side of houses broken that hasn't been fixed. It's a lot of stuff.' White is president of the Otago University Students Association. The government's Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) has this week been visiting student rentals in Dunedin to check whether they comply with the Residential Tenancies Act. Acting TCIT national manager Clare Lyons-Montgomery said landlords must provide rental homes that are warm, safe and dry. 'Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting. 'Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health and safety requirements in additional to tenancy law.' All rental properties must also comply with the Healthy Homes standards by 1 July this year, which require ventilation, heating and insulation. Tenancies started or renewed on or after 3 March had until then to comply but from 1 July there is no leeway and every new tenancy must comply immediately. White said he had been told about 30 percent of Dunedin student rentals would not comply. But he said students were sometimes hesitant to raise problems with property managers or landlords because they worried about their ability to get a reference in future, or about creating other problems for themselves. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said its most recent survey of Healthy Homes compliance was in January 2024 and found 17 percent of landlords said they fully met the standards and almost three-quarters had done something to prepare. 'From July 1, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards. All boarding houses, Kāinga Ora houses and registered community housing provider houses must already comply with the healthy homes standards,' Lyons-Montgomery said. 'Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – and may face consequences, like financial penalties.' Sarina Gibbon, general manager of the Auckland Property Investors Association, said she had been talking to colleagues about the lack of awareness about how the deadline applied. 'The situation appears to be split across experience lines. Seasoned landlords and property managers who have had the standards drummed into them since 2019 have largely adapted and developed the right muscle memory. 'You'll recall that in 2022 when the government extended the deadline out by two years so that Kainga Ora could have more runway [it] went down like a lead balloon for the private sector. That said, the already generous compliance timeline should mean that there is no excuse for rental properties to not comply. We are finally getting to a point in the rental sector where we can stop negotiating on tenants' wellbeing.' But she said she was still seeing things that concerned her. 'Many less experienced landlords and property managers seem unaware that, from July 1, there's no grace period – properties must be fully compliant, period. So none of that 90 or 120 day runway from the start of the tenancy. That's fine because the TCIT can clean that up. What worries me the most is that the knowledge gap extends to tenants too. Many don't realise they will have the right to a fully Healthy Homes compliant home from 1 July. This is potentially harmful for vulnerable renters in non-compliant houses. ' She said if landlords did not treat compliance as a priority, it was reasonable to expect the Tenancy Tribunal and TCIT to 'come down hard on them'. 'The industry has had way too long to get our heads around the standards, let's get on with it already.' Some property managers are understood to be preparing to drop clients who are not willing to make changes to comply with the rules. But MBIE is likely to monitor bond forms for a change of landlord from a property manager to a private arrangement, then audit those properties. Matt Ball, spokesperson for the NZ Property Investors Federation, said his organisation's members tended to be well prepared. But he said there could be some 'accidental landlords' who had decided to rent a property rather than sell it who might not have considered it properly. He said he had heard from tradespeople that there had been an increase in inquiry from property owners needing work done to comply. 'There might be some people rushing at the last minute to get everything done.'
Scoop
24-05-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Some Landlords, Tenants Unaware Of Healthy Homes Standards Despite Looming Deadline
Article – RNZ All rental properties must comply with the Healthy Homes standards just weeks from now, including ventilation, heating and insulation. Liam White can share some horror stories about rental properties in Dunedin. 'I went into a flat and I saw a window – the landlord had cut out the corner wide enough that you could stick your finger through it so they could open the window past a balcony – there was just a constant draught coming in. There's heat pumps that don't work … there's the classic holes in walls, cladding on the side of houses broken that hasn't been fixed. It's a lot of stuff.' White is president of the Otago University Students Association. The government's Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) has this week been visiting student rentals in Dunedin to check whether they comply with the Residential Tenancies Act. Acting TCIT national manager Clare Lyons-Montgomery said landlords must provide rental homes that are warm, safe and dry. 'Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting. 'Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health and safety requirements in additional to tenancy law.' All rental properties must also comply with the Healthy Homes standards by 1 July this year, which require ventilation, heating and insulation. Tenancies started or renewed on or after 3 March had until then to comply but from 1 July there is no leeway and every new tenancy must comply immediately. White said he had been told about 30 percent of Dunedin student rentals would not comply. But he said students were sometimes hesitant to raise problems with property managers or landlords because they worried about their ability to get a reference in future, or about creating other problems for themselves. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said its most recent survey of Healthy Homes compliance was in January 2024 and found 17 percent of landlords said they fully met the standards and almost three-quarters had done something to prepare. 'From July 1, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards. All boarding houses, Kāinga Ora houses and registered community housing provider houses must already comply with the healthy homes standards,' Lyons-Montgomery said. 'Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 – and may face consequences, like financial penalties.' Sarina Gibbon, general manager of the Auckland Property Investors Association, said she had been talking to colleagues about the lack of awareness about how the deadline applied. 'The situation appears to be split across experience lines. Seasoned landlords and property managers who have had the standards drummed into them since 2019 have largely adapted and developed the right muscle memory. 'You'll recall that in 2022 when the government extended the deadline out by two years so that Kainga Ora could have more runway [it] went down like a lead balloon for the private sector. That said, the already generous compliance timeline should mean that there is no excuse for rental properties to not comply. We are finally getting to a point in the rental sector where we can stop negotiating on tenants' wellbeing.' But she said she was still seeing things that concerned her. 'Many less experienced landlords and property managers seem unaware that, from July 1, there's no grace period – properties must be fully compliant, period. So none of that 90 or 120 day runway from the start of the tenancy. That's fine because the TCIT can clean that up. What worries me the most is that the knowledge gap extends to tenants too. Many don't realise they will have the right to a fully Healthy Homes compliant home from 1 July. This is potentially harmful for vulnerable renters in non-compliant houses. ' She said if landlords did not treat compliance as a priority, it was reasonable to expect the Tenancy Tribunal and TCIT to 'come down hard on them'. 'The industry has had way too long to get our heads around the standards, let's get on with it already.' Some property managers are understood to be preparing to drop clients who are not willing to make changes to comply with the rules. But MBIE is likely to monitor bond forms for a change of landlord from a property manager to a private arrangement, then audit those properties. Matt Ball, spokesperson for the NZ Property Investors Federation, said his organisation's members tended to be well prepared. But he said there could be some 'accidental landlords' who had decided to rent a property rather than sell it who might not have considered it properly. He said he had heard from tradespeople that there had been an increase in inquiry from property owners needing work done to comply. 'There might be some people rushing at the last minute to get everything done.'
Scoop
24-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Some Landlords, Tenants Unaware Of Healthy Homes Standards Despite Looming Deadline
Liam White can share some horror stories about rental properties in Dunedin. "I went into a flat and I saw a window - the landlord had cut out the corner wide enough that you could stick your finger through it so they could open the window past a balcony - there was just a constant draught coming in. There's heat pumps that don't work … there's the classic holes in walls, cladding on the side of houses broken that hasn't been fixed. It's a lot of stuff." White is president of the Otago University Students Association. The government's Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) has this week been visiting student rentals in Dunedin to check whether they comply with the Residential Tenancies Act. Acting TCIT national manager Clare Lyons-Montgomery said landlords must provide rental homes that are warm, safe and dry. "Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting. "Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health and safety requirements in additional to tenancy law." All rental properties must also comply with the Healthy Homes standards by 1 July this year, which require ventilation, heating and insulation. Tenancies started or renewed on or after 3 March had until then to comply but from 1 July there is no leeway and every new tenancy must comply immediately. White said he had been told about 30 percent of Dunedin student rentals would not comply. But he said students were sometimes hesitant to raise problems with property managers or landlords because they worried about their ability to get a reference in future, or about creating other problems for themselves. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said its most recent survey of Healthy Homes compliance was in January 2024 and found 17 percent of landlords said they fully met the standards and almost three-quarters had done something to prepare. "From July 1, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards. All boarding houses, Kāinga Ora houses and registered community housing provider houses must already comply with the healthy homes standards," Lyons-Montgomery said. "Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 - and may face consequences, like financial penalties." Sarina Gibbon, general manager of the Auckland Property Investors Association, said she had been talking to colleagues about the lack of awareness about how the deadline applied. "The situation appears to be split across experience lines. Seasoned landlords and property managers who have had the standards drummed into them since 2019 have largely adapted and developed the right muscle memory. "You'll recall that in 2022 when the government extended the deadline out by two years so that Kainga Ora could have more runway [it] went down like a lead balloon for the private sector. That said, the already generous compliance timeline should mean that there is no excuse for rental properties to not comply. We are finally getting to a point in the rental sector where we can stop negotiating on tenants' wellbeing." But she said she was still seeing things that concerned her. "Many less experienced landlords and property managers seem unaware that, from July 1, there's no grace period - properties must be fully compliant, period. So none of that 90 or 120 day runway from the start of the tenancy. That's fine because the TCIT can clean that up. What worries me the most is that the knowledge gap extends to tenants too. Many don't realise they will have the right to a fully Healthy Homes compliant home from 1 July. This is potentially harmful for vulnerable renters in non-compliant houses. " She said if landlords did not treat compliance as a priority, it was reasonable to expect the Tenancy Tribunal and TCIT to "come down hard on them". "The industry has had way too long to get our heads around the standards, let's get on with it already." Some property managers are understood to be preparing to drop clients who are not willing to make changes to comply with the rules. But MBIE is likely to monitor bond forms for a change of landlord from a property manager to a private arrangement, then audit those properties. Matt Ball, spokesperson for the NZ Property Investors Federation, said his organisation's members tended to be well prepared. But he said there could be some "accidental landlords" who had decided to rent a property rather than sell it who might not have considered it properly. He said he had heard from tradespeople that there had been an increase in inquiry from property owners needing work done to comply. "There might be some people rushing at the last minute to get everything done."
RNZ News
22-05-2025
- General
- RNZ News
Some landlords, tenants unaware of Healthy Homes standards despite looming deadline
Photo: RNZ / Dom Thomas Liam White can share some horror stories about rental properties in Dunedin. "I went into a flat and I saw a window - the landlord had cut out the corner wide enough that you could stick your finger through it so they could open the window past a balcony - there was just a constant draught coming in. There's heat pumps that don't work … there's the classic holes in walls, cladding on the side of houses broken that hasn't been fixed. It's a lot of stuff." White is president of the Otago University Students Association. The government's Tenancy Compliance and Investigations team (TCIT) has this week been visiting student rentals in Dunedin to check whether they comply with the Residential Tenancies Act. Acting TCIT national manager Clare Lyons-Montgomery said landlords must provide rental homes that are warm, safe and dry. "Young people are a priority population for our team, as they can be vulnerable and unaware of their rights because they are new to renting. Auckland Property Investors Association general manager Sarina Gibbon says some people don't understand how strict the deadline will be. Photo: Supplied "Landlords have obligations and responsibilities under the Residential Tenancies Act and must provide a rental home that complies with all building, health and safety requirements in additional to tenancy law." All rental properties must also comply with the Healthy Homes standards by 1 July this year, which require ventilation, heating and insulation. Tenancies started or renewed on or after 3 March had until then to comply but from 1 July there is no leeway and every new tenancy must comply immediately. White said he had been told about 30 percent of Dunedin student rentals would not comply. But he said students were sometimes hesitant to raise problems with property managers or landlords because they worried about their ability to get a reference in future, or about creating other problems for themselves. The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development said its most recent survey of Healthy Homes compliance was in January 2024 and found 17 percent of landlords said they fully met the standards and almost three-quarters had done something to prepare. "From July 1, all private rentals must comply with the healthy homes standards. All boarding houses, Kāinga Ora houses and registered community housing provider houses must already comply with the healthy homes standards," Lyons-Montgomery said. "Landlords who do not meet their obligations under the standards are in breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 - and may face consequences, like financial penalties." Sarina Gibbon, general manager of the Auckland Property Investors Association, said she had been talking to colleagues about the lack of awareness about how the deadline applied. "The situation appears to be split across experience lines. Seasoned landlords and property managers who have had the standards drummed into them since 2019 have largely adapted and developed the right muscle memory. "You'll recall that in 2022 when the government extended the deadline out by two years so that Kainga Ora could have more runway [it] went down like a lead balloon for the private sector. That said, the already generous compliance timeline should mean that there is no excuse for rental properties to not comply. We are finally getting to a point in the rental sector where we can stop negotiating on tenants' wellbeing." But she said she was still seeing things that concerned her. "Many less experienced landlords and property managers seem unaware that, from July 1, there's no grace period - properties must be fully compliant, period. So none of that 90 or 120 day runway from the start of the tenancy. That's fine because the TCIT can clean that up. What worries me the most is that the knowledge gap extends to tenants too. Many don't realise they will have the right to a fully Healthy Homes compliant home from 1 July. This is potentially harmful for vulnerable renters in non-compliant houses. " She said if landlords did not treat compliance as a priority, it was reasonable to expect the Tenancy Tribunal and TCIT to "come down hard on them". "The industry has had way too long to get our heads around the standards, let's get on with it already." Some property managers are understood to be preparing to drop clients who are not willing to make changes to comply with the rules. But MBIE is likely to monitor bond forms for a change of landlord from a property manager to a private arrangement, then audit those properties. Matt Ball, spokesperson for the NZ Property Investors Federation, said his organisation's members tended to be well prepared. But he said there could be some "accidental landlords" who had decided to rent a property rather than sell it who might not have considered it properly. He said he had heard from tradespeople that there had been an increase in inquiry from property owners needing work done to comply. "There might be some people rushing at the last minute to get everything done." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Otago Daily Times
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Opinion: Budget should be putting people first
As the days get colder, I ever more greatly appreciate my bowl of porridge in the morning. Topped with brown sugar, it's nutritious, delicious and cheap. But not all things that are cheap are good for us. We've already heard from Minister of Finance Nicola Willis that any new spending in Budget 2025 will be limited to $1.4 billion, cut back from the original intended $2.4b, which was itself already $100 million below what the Treasury said was needed to keep the lights on. Austerity hurts, and it worsens inequality. But it doesn't have to be this way. Just last week, I had an opportunity to catch up with the Dunedin-based Aukaha team - the mana whenua-owned organisation acting and advocating for the betterment of people and place, for this generation and beyond. I heard stories of whanau in extreme energy hardship who had been helped through the Otago Home Upgrade programme and the Healthy Homes initiative. I've seen for myself the difference it makes for people to have advocates like Aukaha's whanau navigators and home performance advisers to enable them to climb out of desperation into a place of wellbeing. And I was very pleased to learn that Aukaha's team have just received two grants to enable more Healthy Homes work. But I also know that in 2024, Nicola Willis cut resourcing to the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority, which runs the nationwide Warmer Kiwi Homes programme delivered through local partners such as Aukaha. Things are looking decidedly worse for our most vulnerable as we approach winter and the 2025 Budget. In 1991, Ruth Richardson's ''mother of all budgets'' began by pitting New Zealanders against each other and we face a repeat in 2025. We're being sold a stigma and poverty is the result. This is what we must confront. A country where more and more people sleep rough. More than ever we need resources to help those in energy hardship and those struggling. We need it delivered through trusted agencies such as Aukaha, Presbyterian Support Otago, Anglican Family Care, Habitat for Humanity and more. That's why we in the Greens have been working on a prosperity Green Budget - to demonstrate how we can put the common good of people and planet ahead of corporate greed. Over the next few weeks, we'll be releasing details - and later in July, our co-leader Chloe Swarbrick will be in town, and not just for the porridge. She will be here to talk specifically about what a Green-led government would do for Ōtepoti Dunedin and the Deep South and how we can support wellbeing in partnership with providers, and to hear from the community. We can do things differently. We just have to choose something different.
