Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties 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 can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be done, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, 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, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to 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 done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Highbury, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Highbury rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Highbury rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. 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 heating source needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just require an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Highbury

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the home to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor 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

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check when conducting an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.