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 of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully certified to assess 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information 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 information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Highbury, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Highbury rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Highbury rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched whenever possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Every living space of a rental house must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Highbury

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make it easier to allow the house to keep heat.

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

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

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

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Highbury

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine during the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.