Disabled people in rented homes are more likely to be shivering through a cold winter, a Disability Survey has found.
Almost 40 per cent of disabled people in rental accommodation said they had difficulty heating, a Statistics NZ survey reported. This is compared to 27 per cent of non-disabled people in rented housing.
Wellbeing and housing statistics manager Litia Tapu said that "a cold, damp house is more common for disabled people than non-disabled".
Overall, 24 per cent of disabled people living in rented houses reported both cold and damp, compared with 15 percent of non-disabled people.
Green Party disability spokesman Mojo Mathers said a cut to home insulation funding to its "lowest ever level" in the 2016 Budget meant that thousands of people were missing out on getting warm, dry homes. He said disabled people are disproportionately affected by these Budget cuts.