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? Landlords now have 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 rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks which needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

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 tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request an home assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Highbury, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Highbury rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Highbury rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Highbury Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Highbury

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Highbury

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Highbury

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task for the house to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire 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

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full 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 Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.