27 Jul 2023

Audit discovers 70 buildings with no sprinklers

From Morning Report, 6:44 am on 27 July 2023

A government audit, prompted by the fatal Loafers Lodge fire, has identified 70 similar multi-storey boarding houses across the country with no sprinklers.

Officials will start inspecting the buildings from next month, with their findings expected to inform regulatory changes.

In the wake of the fire that killed five people, the Housing Minister was asked to look into building regulations for high-density accommodation and whether they are fit for purpose.

Megan Woods told our political reporter Katie Scotcher she subsequently wrote to all the country's mayors, requesting information on boarding houses in their area.