Ceiling and underfloor insulation must be installed in all rental properties by July 2019. It may feel like there is plenty of time, but it’s important to start assessing your rentals insulation requirements now so you know what work needs to be done.
A landlord who fails to comply with the regulations is committing an unlawful act and may be liable for a penalty of up to $4000.
What is the standard insulation for homes?
The Insulation Association of New Zealand is a good place to start as well as checking the Energy Efficiency Conservation Authority (EECA) website which has a handy tool to help you locate an installer in your region. You could also try searching online to find insulation providers in your area. EECA recommend you source at least three quotes before making a decision to ensure you are getting the best price.
How much does Retrofit insulation cost?
The average cost of paying a professional installer to put in both ceiling and floor insulation is approximately $3,400 excluding GST for a 96m2 property. Make sure you check the cost per square metre against performance - higher thermal resistance or R-value. The prices of lower and higher-performing insulation products are often similar.
Do banks and local councils help to cover the cost?
Some local councils and banks have payment options to help you with the cost of installing insulation and heating. Before looking into payment options, check whether you’re eligible for funding.
The Warmer Kiwi Homes programme offers some funding towards ceiling and underfloor insulation for low-income homeowners.
How do I demonstrate what insulation I have in my rental?
All tenancy agreements must include an insulation statement that covers what insulation the home has, where it is, and what type. The details required are quite specific and it’s important to get this information right to ensure you are compliant and so that tenants know what to expect before signing the tenancy agreement.
To help ensure that insulation statements meet criteria Tenancy Services have developed an insulation statement template that can be downloaded, filled out and added to your existing tenancy agreement.
Can’t meet The Warmer Homes Kiwi standard?
Due to the design or construction constraints of some properties, it is sometimes not physically possible to insulate or it would require major renovations to do so.
If you are in any doubt whether insulation can be installed in your rental property, you should consult an experienced professional insulation installer and, if needed, a builder.
If the experienced professional says insulating some areas is not reasonably practicable or not possible, you should ask for written confirmation of the reasons to include in the insulation statement on tenancy agreements.
Additionally, the state of a property’s insulation plays an important role on its rental price. We suggest getting in touch with our property managers for a free rental appraisal.
What else do I need to know?
Good ventilation and insulation make it easier and more efficient for your tenants to heat their home. Warm and dry rental homes also help tenants avoid illnesses and make them more likely to stay longer.
It is also now a legal requirement for landlords to have working smoke alarms in all rental properties. Tenants are required to change the batteries if they expire during their tenancy. To help out, here is a useful resource to find out about what type of smoke alarms you need and where they should be located in your rental property.
Source: www.tenancy.govt.nz
