Wellington City Council is launching a voluntary Rental Warrant of Fitness for minimum housing standards in the city. Mayor Justin Lester says council will be working with the Sustainability Trust to make inspections on properties.
"They've been doing this type of work for decades already and they already undertake the warm, fuzzy home programme.
He says the warrant cost for landlords is $250 for three years.
"In future I would expect... local government or central government may also come to the party with grants to help support landlords, because this is a good thing to improve the overall quality of housing stock."
He says the minimum standards are "pretty basic".
"This isn't asking the earth - it's that there's no rainwater ponding under the house, that the toilets work, that there are secure locks on the doors, there are latches on windows, that there's insulation in the ceilings and in the walls.
"It's a bit like a Heart Foundation tick, saying 'this house is healthy'."
He says Wellington Council doesn't have power to enforce the warrant of fitness, "but this is a good start - this is a tool for landlords as well.
"If I've got a home and it's vacant, and I'm trying to market it to prospective tenants, I can put that certification up against my property on Trade Me... For tenants it's a great sign."
He says a trial a few years ago checking Wellington properties against the standards showed "a good chunk" failed.
"But they failed on basic things - they might have had to put a window latch on, for example.
"Most houses with some basic improvements, will meet the rental warrant of fitness."
