An academic who pioneered the UK's housing rating system recently called on RNZ for housing warrants of fitness (WoFs) to be made compulsory.
The Housing Health and Safety Rating System, whose development was led by Professor David Ormandy, has operated in the UK for more than a decade and was later adopted by the US.
The UK's housing WoF system shifts the focus of assessments from the condition of buildings to the effects of substandard housing conditions on occupants' health。
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Inspired by this, the University of Otago also developed a WoF system for rental homes, which Wellington City Council recently introduced on a voluntary basis. An assessment costs $250, certification is valid for three years, and 29 criteria are checked, including indoor ventilation, dampness and mould growth.
Unfortunately, only two homes received WoF certification in the first six months of Wellington's scheme.
“This assessment system should be compulsory and regulated.” The British professor believes reducing the number of high-risk homes can effectively protect taxpayers, as society would otherwise have to bear the healthcare costs caused by poor-quality housing.
The introduction of the housing assessment system in the UK brought substantial changes, with rental housing problems such as dampness, excessive cold and tenants suffering falls declining by 10%.