Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We will assess your rental property to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Highbury, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Highbury rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Highbury rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Highbury Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within your home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Highbury

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make much easier to the house to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Highbury

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Highbury include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.