Warm Up New Zealand: Healthy Homes Rental programme

Launched as part of New Zealand’s broader energy efficiency strategy, the Healthy Homes Rental Programme aimed to improve the living conditions of low-income tenants by subsidising insulation upgrades in rental properties. It ran from September 2013 to 30 June 2018, building on the success of earlier Warm Up NZ initiatives.

Objectives

• The aim was to decrease energy poverty among vulnerable renters by enhancing their thermal comfort and reducing their energy bills.

• To incentivise landlords to insulate rental properties occupied by low-income tenants.

• To improve public health outcomes by creating warmer, drier, and healthier homes.

Vision: A New Zealand where all households, regardless of income or tenure, live in warm, dry, and energy-efficient homes.

Mission: To deliver targeted insulation retrofits in rental properties, prioritizing those occupied by tenants with health vulnerabilities or financial hardship.

Main Activities

• Free Ceiling and Underfloor Insulation: Provided to eligible rental homes occupied by low-income tenants. Focused on properties with poor thermal performance.

• Landlord Engagement: Encouraged landlords to participate voluntarily. Covered the full cost of insulation for qualifying homes.

• Health-Based Targeting: Prioritized households with children, elderly residents, or individuals with chronic health conditions.

• Partnerships with Service Providers: Worked with insulation installers and community organizations to deliver upgrades efficiently.

Target Audiences

• Low-Income Tenants: Especially those receiving government assistance or living in poorly insulated rental homes.

• Landlords: Incentivised to upgrade properties without incurring costs.

• Health-Vulnerable Populations: Including children, seniors, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular conditions.

• Community Organizations and Installers: Engaged to deliver retrofits and support outreach.

This program stands out as a targeted public health and energy efficiency intervention, demonstrating how housing upgrades can deliver both climate and social benefits.

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  Countries impacted:
  

  New Zealand
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  Geographical scale:
  

  National
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  Energy poverty phase:
  

  Implementation
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  Intervention type:
  

  Financial mechanisms

  Household energy efficiency and refurbishment
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  Professionals involved:
  

  National government

  Health institution
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  Partners involved:
  

  EECA - Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority
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  Type of funding:
  

  Government subsidies
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  Website:
  Case website
• SDGs addressed: