Editorial: Big step forward for cold families

Renters, particularly those at the lower end of the market, are very much at the mercy of their landlords, says Katie Holland. Photo / Stephen Parker

A few weeks ago the Rotorua Daily Post told the story of a family of 12 who were using an oven to keep warm, with nine of them huddled in one room at night for warmth.

Their home, a rental, wasn't insulated and the open fireplace could no longer be used. The oven was cheaper than a heater, they told us.

In that case, the property manager told us the landlord had met his legal obligations, which the tenants couldn't argue with.

That's about to change - well, sometime in the next four years anyway - with the Government's announcement yesterday that by July 2019 all rental properties must be retrofitted with underfloor and ceiling insulation. By next July, they must also be fitted with smoke alarms.

For many of the 30 per cent of Rotorua's population who rent, that will come as welcome news.

Renters, particularly those at the lower end of the market, are very much at the mercy of their landlords when it comes to how well maintained their homes are. It's easy to say, 'If you don't like it, move out', but often that's not an option.

The announcement has been publicly welcomed by local property investors and letting agents, who say they and the landlords they deal with already insulate and provide smoke alarms. It's the "cowboys" we need to be worried about, they say, and these new laws will make them accountable.

There has been criticism it's taken a groundswell of public pressure to make this happen, and also some questioning why landlords have been given four years to make this happen. Yes there are 80,000 homes across the country to insulate but, as Tamati Coffey says, that's four more cold winters. Perhaps some incentives for those who do it sooner could be looked at.

The next issue - come 2019 - will be enforcement of the laws. It will be crucial there are systems in place to identify and hold accountable non-compliant landlords, without any adverse consequences for tenants.

With too many cold, damp homes in our region, this is a major step in the right direction.