Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely 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 your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed 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 building they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to note that landlords who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Highbury, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Highbury rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Highbury rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Highbury Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is 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) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered 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. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air will be easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Highbury

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to allow the household to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of 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, underfloor 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; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

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