New Zealand Green Building Council

26 October 2017

New Housing Minister Must Deliver Strong Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill, Says Green Building Council

Delivering a Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill in 100 days is the first important task on the desk of new Housing Minster Phil Twyford, says the New Zealand Green Building Council (NZGBC) today.

The Bill requires minimum rental home standards for insulation, heating, ventilation and drainage – but the NZGBC warned that the Bill would not be successful if these standards, which have not yet been set, were not set high enough.

Andrew Eagles, chief executive of the NZGBC, said: “Phil Twyford’s got a big task ahead of him as Housing Minister. New Zealand homes just aren’t good enough. Our houses are making our children sick.

“The Healthy Homes Guarantee Bill is an excellent opportunity to improve our homes. The important standards of insulation, heating, ventilation and drainage have not yet been set. We know how important it is to get the balance right with standards, as we are very experienced in creating such standards for existing buildings and homes.

“If these standards are set too low, it will be a huge missed opportunity. And it’s important too that these strong standards are balanced by being straightforward to implement.

“A strong Bill would be great news for the hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders who rent their homes, would also provide an important way for landlords to ensure their properties are being protected from mould and damp, and would be a clear message from this new government that they can deliver the healthy, safe, efficient buildings that all New Zealanders deserve.”

The NZGBC is a non-profit organisation that works to ensure all New Zealanders live, work and play in safe, healthy, efficient buildings.

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