Government residential maintenance incentives and information programmes

Nigel Isaacs

Abstract – Tuhinga Whakarāpopoto

This report investigates programmes or requirements in other countries on the maintenance of residential dwellings to ascertain if these incentives and programmes are useful in a New Zealand context. It uses a web-based literature review undertaken from November 2020 to October 2021.

Although designers, builders, purchasers, product suppliers, and politicians frequently focus on construction costs, the real cost of a dwelling over its life also includes its operating cost and cost of maintenance and refurbishment. Those latter costs are rarely taken into account when we consider housing affordability. The New Zealand Building Code (NZBC) is unique among international jurisdictions in including a durability requirement to ensure that consented dwellings have a limited maintenance requirement over a specified lifespan, that requirement is implemented through NZBC Clause B2-Durability, but whether that means that New Zealand has minimised maintenance and repair costs is debatable. What is clear is that dwelling maintenance continues to present challenges to many owner occupiers and property investors.

Keywords – Kupu Hāngai

Housing, housing maintenance, housing design, Government housing maintenance incentives

Fields of Research – Āpure Rangahau

Housing Maintenance; Housing Design; Government Policy (housing maintenance incentives)

 

Date – Te Wā Whakarewa

2022-08

 

Type – Te Auaha

Research Report

Collections – Kohinga Kaupapa
Citation – Kupu Hautoa

Isaacs, N. (2022). Government residential maintenance incentives and information programmes. Report for Building Better Homes, Towns and Cities, Affordable Housing for Generations – Component D. August 2022, 30pgs. Wellington: BBHTC.

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