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

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Highbury, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Highbury rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control within Highbury rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living area to at minimum 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 health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with the 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 certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Highbury

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

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

Highbury Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed 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 from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Highbury

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during an house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.