Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under 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 up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Highbury, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Highbury rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Highbury rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Highbury Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be 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 a clear draught out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into your home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dried air can be less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Highbury

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier for the household to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and 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 water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Highbury

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Highbury include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine in an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property home assessment.