Supply-chain issues and labour shortages caused by the Covid-19 pandemic are blamed for slow compliance rates.
Since July 2021, private landlords have been required to comply with the standards in their rental properties within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy. But all Kainga Ora houses (formerly Housing New Zealand) had an alternative timeline to meet the standards by 1 July 2023.
The latest bill will give Kainga Ora houses and other registered Community Housing providers another year to get their rentals up to healthy homes standards, which has been argued is the real reason for the latest extension.
The change will also mean all private rentals must comply by 1 July 2025 instead of 1 July 2024. Compliance for a new or renewed tenancy will also shift from 90 to 120 days.
For Kainga Ora, the timeframe for compliance will be 1 July 2024.
The Residential Tenancies (Healthy Homes Standards) Amendment Bill was introduced on 22 November 2022 and has come into force on 26 November 2022.
