IAONZ encourages landlords to be pro-active

Media Release

21December 2016

IAONZ encourages landlords to be pro-active as over 50% of assessments don’t meet new Residential Tenancy Act guidelines

The Insulation Association of New Zealand (IAONZ) is encouraging all landlords to start having their insulation requirements assessed and installed now to comply with the Residential Tenancy Act amendments before the 2017 winter rush arrives.

Rental homes that require ceiling and floor insulation must have it installed by 1 July 2019 however a Statement of Insulation (including compliance to NZS4246:2016 – the New Zealand Standard for Installing Insulation) is now required for all new tenancy agreements.

IAONZ President Stu Henwood stated “We have completed our own membership survey and over 50% of rental home assessments completed from July – October 2016 didn’t meet the new Residential Tenancy Act guidelines and therefore require insulation.”

DIY’ers can install insulation themselves however it is essential it is installed properly to be effective and fully compliant to NZS4246:2016.

Poor installation of insulation can result in considerable loss of its stated thermal efficiency (R-value). Insulation should not be folded, tucked or be compressed. For example, a product that is R2.0 at 100 mm compressed to just 80 mm could have its R-value reduced by 20% to R 1.6. Gaps between insulation and/or framing materials will also lead to considerable loss in efficiency.

Since 1 July 2016, the installation and repair of foil insulation in residential buildings has been banned, with a fine of up to $200,000. IAONZ members are busy with safe foil removal and then handling RTA assessments for landlords which adds to the significant workload.

Stu concludes “The insulation industry can certainly handle the forecast 180,000 rental homes requiring insulation before 1 July 2019 spread across the three-year time period” however his message for landlords is “do not leave it until the final year otherwise many landlords may struggle to have it professionally installed and therefore will fail to comply with the amended Act and open to penalties of up to $4,000.”

Note:

New Zealand Standard for installing insulation (NZS 4246:2016)

This standard provides guidance for the correct installation of insulation products by installers and consumers to achieve the intended thermal performance in buildings without compromising the durability and safety of insulation or building elements and the health and safety of installers and building occupants. The guidance is based on residential-type construction, but the methods may be appropriate to other construction types.

Anyone installing insulation in residential rental homes must install it in accordance with this standard.

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