Since the announcement last year of minimum standards being introduced for all rental properties, there has been a lot of demand within the landlord industry
for more specific directives as to what exactly these standards are to be. It is very well to make insulation and smoke alarms compulsory but
how much insulation and how many smoke alarms should be installed?
Over the last many months, the New Zealand Property Investors’ Federation on behalf of all the Property Investors’ Associations around the country has
been actively engaging with the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment to lobby for reasonable levels of insulation and smoke alarm installation
with the view that while landlords have a responsibility over the health and safety of our tenants the commercial reality is such that an overly onerous
regime will not only increase rent but also force a decline in rental stock.
The Housing Minister’s announcement yesterday is a result of all the NZPIF’s hard work. We can now confirm the following information:
Smoke alarms
Compliance date
1st July 2016
Minimum standards
Minimum of one working smoke alarm within three metres of each bedroom door.
Minimum of one working smoke alarm in a self-contained sleep-out, caravan or similar.
Minimum of one working smoke alarm on each level in a multi-level unit.
All new installations to be specifically long life photoelectric alarms.
Existing battery operated smoke alarms to be replaced by long life photoelectric alarms when the former fail/need to be replaced.
Related offer: $20 off long life photoelectric smoke alarms for APIA members
Installation details
Installation in accordance with placement requirements identified in the manufacturer’s instructions AND
Minimum of one working smoke alarm in the hall or similar, within three...
