CRACKING DOWN ON DAMP

A great many New Zealanders are all too familiar with the experience of living in a cold, damp house. “Weeping” windows, clothes, bedding and upholstery that are moist to the touch, and air that simply never feels dry: these conditions have long been tolerated.

But that’s changing now. There’s growing awareness of the havoc damp living environments can wreak on people’s health. One University of Otago study suggests that up to 1,600 New Zealanders die each year due to health conditions arising from cold, damp houses.

This has played a big part in the drive towards warmer, drier homes and the introduction of the Government’s new Healthy Homes minimum standards for rental properties. Along with insulation and heating, ventilation is a key part of the standards. So in