Prime Minister John Key has hinted National is considering a limited form of a 'warrant of fitness' for rental houses likely to include insulation and smoke alarms.
Yesterday he said the Government had got advice on the matter and he believed there was more the Government could do for substandard housing.
He said there was broad agreement about the need for insulation and smoke alarms in as many houses as possible.
The issue came to the fore after a coroner's finding into the death of Emma-Lita Bourne, 2, said it was partly down to a damp, cold state house.
That house was insulated but the family could not afford to run heating.