The properties must have been built before 1978, when insulation became mandatory in the building regulations, and must be occupied by tenants who qualify for a community services card.

Recent research by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority has shown that 88% of renters are likely to stay longer in more energy efficient properties and 83% are more likely to rent them in the first place if they were energy efficient.

Landlords who insulate will see the value of their properties enhanced and made more attractive to long term tenants, and will benefit from reduced maintenance and tenant turnover costs each year, the authority says.

“Tenants will benefit from warmer, drier homes that are healthier to live in and cost less to run. The health and energy benefits have been shown to exceed the actual cost of retrofitting a house by a ratio of almost 2:1.”

“We want to encourage tenants to say to their landlords,” Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority chief executive Mike Underhill says.

“We have over 300,000 rental properties in New Zealand at the moment, and over a quarter of these of are occupied by people on a low income. Thousands of people are living in homes with little or no insulation, and this has a huge affect on their on their health, as well as increasing their energy bills.”

The scheme covers ceiling and underfloor insulation, hot water cylinder wraps, pipe lagging, low flow showerheads and draught proofing.