Why housing warrants of fitness are a great first step
In the latest Beacon blog, Nick Collins explains why Beacon applauds the two initiatives underway by the New Zealand Government and 5 city councils to trial a Warrant of Fitness.
Beacon takes a ‘whole of house’ approach to home performance. We believe a house is a complex system, with all aspects working together. To get a warm dry healthy and resource efficient house, we need to assess the whole house and work out all the steps that need to be taken to achieve overall improvement. Interestingly, we note the same integrated approach being used in the UK to avoid “‘improvements’ in one area [having] damaging and unintended impacts on another”.
Beacon sees that renovation is a pathway - series of carefully considered steps toward the goal (a warmer drier healthier home). We recognise that most people can’t do this all at once (that’s where new homes have the perfect opportunity to get it right!) and so, offering a plan with prioritised steps is the best way to lead people along the pathway.
Trialling these WOFs will set rental properties on the first step on the pathway to a high performing home - getting the basics right. It’s a great first step in an area of housing which has been difficult to shift toward better performance.
The potential for a WoF to improve the lives of many New Zealanders can be seen in the case study of Chantal and Gregory. It is the first step of a journey all New Zealand homes should be on.
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