If you want to develop your listening skills, try these tasks as you listen to the text. The answers are at the bottom of this page, after the Vocabulary. Thanks to Natasha Groves for preparing the tasks.
If you want to listen and read, just scroll down to the text.
1. Listening for main ideas
First, just listen to the text, taking notes if you wish. What information can you catch during this first listening?
2. Now listen again and answer the following questions:
- Why are many houses in New Zealand cold and damp?
- Which homes are often poorer quality?
- What is changing from 1 July?
- What measures to increase warmth are included in the Healthy Homes standards?
- What are the measures to increase ventilation?
- What insulation must all rental homes have?
- What are landlords responsible for?
- What should tenants do first if their home does not meet the standards by 1 July?
- What can tenants do if the landlord does not fix a problem in a reasonable time?
- What are tenants responsible for?
Text
Many houses in New Zealand are cold and damp, because of the climate and the way old houses were built. This can negatively affect people’s health. Rental homes are often poorer quality than those which are occupied by owners. Now, though, there is a change. From 1 July, all rental properties in New Zealand must comply with the Healthy Homes standards. That means they must have adequate ventilation, heating, and insulation.
The Healthy Homes standards became law on 1 July 2019. They introduced measures to make rental properties warmer and drier, so that they are healthier for the people who live in them. Firstly, for warmth, a rental home must have one or more fixed heaters (that is, heaters that can’t be moved) that can directly heat the main living room. There should also be no noticeable draughts (that means, no cold air coming in), so landlords must make sure their property has no unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and doors. Secondly if there is not enough fresh air in a house or apartment, it can become mouldy or damp, which is bad for health. Therefore, the ventilation standard states that rental homes must have windows that can open in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms must also have extractor fans which can take hot air and moisture outside. Thirdly, all rental homes must have ceiling and underfloor insulation where it’s possible to be installed. Insulation stops the heat from escaping through the ceiling or floor.
There were different deadlines for rental properties to meet these standards. For example, Kāinga Ora and other Community Housing Provider houses had to comply with the standards on 1 July 2024/ last year. From 1 July 2025, all rental homes must comply with them. It is landlords’ responsibility to ensure their rental properties meet the standards and continue to meet them over time. If they don’t, they may face consequences, such as fines.
Tenants in a home which does not meet the standards by this deadline should first talk to their landlord about the issue. If the landlord does not fix the problems in a reasonable time, tenants can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for help. Tenants also have a responsibility to help maintain the property. This includes opening windows daily, for at least 15 minutes, to air the house; using the extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen when showering and cooking; drying their washing outside if possible, or in a room with the doors closed and a window open. These steps will help to reduce moisture in the home and to keep it warm and healthy.
Vocabulary
climate – the typical weather conditions in an area or country
ventilation – if there is ventilation, fresh air can enter and move around a room or building
insulation – material used to stop heat from passing through. Insulation can be put in the ceiling, walls or under the floor
draught – cold air that moves through a room
landlord – a person who owns a house and rents it to someone else
ceiling – the top inside surface of a room
mouldy – if something is mouldy, it is covered with a black, grey or green substance called mould, which grows on old food or things that are in warm wet air
extractor fan – a device that removes hot air and unpleasant smells from a room
moisture – small amounts of water that are present in the air or on a surface
install – to put a piece of equipment somewhere and connect it, so that someone can use it
deadline – if you have a deadline, you must finish by that date or time
comply with – to do what you have to do, to obey a rule or an order
fine – (noun) in this context, a fine is money that someone pays as a punishment
tenants – people who rent a home
Answers
a. Why are many houses in New Zealand cold and damp?
Because of the climate and the way old houses were built
b. Which homes are often poorer quality?
Rental homes
c. What is changing from 1 July?
All rental properties in New Zealand must comply with the Healthy Homes standards. That means they must have adequate ventilation, heating, and insulation.
d. What measures to increase warmth are included in the Healthy Homes standards?
A rental home must have one or more fixed heaters which heat the main living room; it must have no noticeable draughts: no unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and doors.
e. What are the measures to increase ventilation?
Rental homes must have windows that can open in the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bedrooms. Kitchens and bathrooms must have extractor fans which can take hot air and moisture outside.
f. What insulation must all rental homes have?
Ceiling and underfloor insulation where possible
g. What are landlords responsible for?
They will need to ensure their rental properties meet the standards and continue to meet them over time.
h. What should tenants do first if their home does not meet the standards by 1 July?
They should first talk to their landlord about the issue.
i. What can tenants do if the landlord does not fix a problem in a reasonable time?
They can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for help.
j. What are tenants responsible for?
To help maintain the property: opening windows daily, for at least 15 minutes, to air the house; using the extractor fans in the bathroom and kitchen when showering and cooking; drying their washing outside if possible, or in a room with the doors closed and a window open.