Landlords take aim at WOFs

NZPIF executive officer Andrew King said Twyford’s bill was sensible and pragmatic, tackled the two biggest problems – cold and damp – and would not incur the same compliance costs as a rental WOF scheme.

A form letter has been distributed to the members of many property investors associations.

Under the Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, landlords will be required to make a declaration that their rental property meets standards set by EECA and has adequate insulation and an efficient heating device.

The Tenancy Tribunal would have jurisdiction to enforce the standard.

King said it would be a welcome move away from the idea of a WOF scheme, which has the support of the National and Green parties.

“We need to shift our focus away from a WOF scheme and look at how we can improve insulation and heating. This will be a much more effective way of improving the health of families living in cold or damp homes,” he said.

“Already there are calls for additional requirements to be added, such as P Lab testing and orientation towards the sun. This makes an already costly exercise more time consuming and expensive."

He said the negative implications of a WOF system needed to be considered. "It will be a burden for both landlords and tenants."