Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Highbury, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Highbury rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Highbury rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out from the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Highbury

Rental properties in Highbury require a reliable heating source that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Every living space in a rental home must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Highbury

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Highbury

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.