Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Highbury rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Highbury, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, 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 mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Highbury rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Highbury rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. 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 that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Highbury

Rental properties in Highbury must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it could need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Highbury

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make it easier for the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 quality.

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

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

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the building. 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 through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check during a house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.