Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Highbury, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Highbury rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control within Highbury rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Highbury Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not 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 pump), it requirements to have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Highbury

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Highbury

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to allow the household to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Highbury

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home assessment.