Councillors at yesterday's community and culture committee meeting were discussing a council submission on new rules for healthy homes in New Zealand.
The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development is consulting on new healthy homes standards, which, if adopted, would require landlords to bring their properties up to new standards for warm, dry rental homes and keep additional records of improvements.
The initiative was expected to cost the Dunedin City Council between $1.5 million and $2 million in upgrades to its community housing portfolio, as well as hitting private landlords - and their tenants - in the pocket.
However, Dunedin Mayor Dave Cull was among those to back the initiative yesterday, saying the poor standard of rental homes was already costing the country ''millions and millions of dollars'' in healthcare and misery.
''The bottom line is that New Zealand's housing quality is appalling.''
And it was not just the oldest houses that were at fault, Mr Cull said.
New Zealand's Building Code remained ''completely inadequate'', meaning even new homes did not compare well to those built in Europe, he believed.
There would be an impact on landlords, but the issue was also a consumer one for tenants, he said.
''If you sell something, it's got to be fit for purpose.
''You can sell a can opener for 10 cents,but it's still got to be able to open cans,'' he said.
Cr Lee Vandervis was the only councillor to oppose the submission, saying he supported a push to improve housing quality but not measures which risked swamping landlords in ''draconian and unnecessary paperwork''.
Other councillors backed the submission, including Cr Damien Newell, who said improvements should help ensure flatting in Dunedin was ''no longer an adventure sport''.
Cr David Benson-Pope said if the changes forced out some poor landlords who did not want to invest in their properties, that would be a good outcome.
''I know there are plenty of good landlords around, but there are also plenty of dogs, and they need to get the message,'' he said.
Cr Christine Garey said councillors should remember the issue was not about landlords.
''This is about the tenants. That's what we should be focusing on.''
Cr Aaron Hawkins said as house prices increased, living in rental accommodation was becoming less of a student right of passage, and more of a lifetime reality, for more New Zealanders.
''Guaranteeing minimum standards for our rental properties is long overdue.''
Under the changes, landlords would have to improve heating, insulation, ventilation, prevent moisture ingress and stop draughts, which would benefit low-income households in particular.
The changes were expected to result in fewer sick days and hospital admissions, as well as reduced carbon emissions, a staff report said.
Councillors voted 14-1 to approve the DCC submission. Only Cr Vandervis voted against it.
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Comments
To make it all fair to all, if the DCC wants to introduce such a procedure and again limit such rentals available on the market, lets stop the the DCC collecting the rates on the properties until such time they can be ocupied as rentals again. On that note whats happening to Sammies the DCC purchased?
The nanny State just sealed an increase in your rent. The landlords will pass on all costs, assuming if they remain as landlords. If they sell their rentals- guess what? prices will go up even further as fewer rentals will exist. The drivers of rental costs and house prices are excessive immigration and low interest rates.