Subsidies for landlords?
With winter on its way Auckland landlords are being encouraged to utilise ratepayer money to make their rental homes healthier.
Auckland Council’s Healthy Rentals project allows landlords to apply for subsidies to improve and insulate their homes.
Managed by the Low Carbon Living team in Auckland Council’s Environmental Services, rental homes in the Puketapapa, Whau, Mangere- Otahuhu and Maungakiekie-Tamaki local boards are eligible for the scheme.
Liz Ross from the Auckland Council Sustainability Initiatives Team said since the scheme was set up in 2014 more than 600 rental properties had improvements made through Healthy Rentals subsidies.
‘‘We want to hear from landlords and tenants now to beat the winter rush,’’ Ross said.
The scheme was originally a Maungakiekie-Tamaki Local Board initiative.
Subsidies are available for improvements to ceiling and underfloor insulation, heat pumps, bathroom and kitchen extractor fans and groundsheets designed to be laid out under homes to stop rising damp and odours.
Each local board had a budget of between $20,000 and $28,000 for Healthy Rentals subsidies, she said.
Puketapapa Local Board chairman Harry Doig said people should put pressure on their landlords if they were concerned about the temperature of their houses and keeping healthy in the winter months.
‘‘We want to hear from landlords and tenants now to beat the winter rush’’
Liz Ross