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 must ensure their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s also crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Highbury, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Highbury rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Highbury rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A damp home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used 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 require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during 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 well-being as well as their mental health.

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

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it may require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Highbury

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Highbury

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of 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 Standard in Highbury include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for in an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.