Healthy Homes Assessment Highbury

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required 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 are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to meet the obligations in 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Highbury rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into 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 deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Highbury, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Highbury rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping on 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 can lead to low temperatures inside households. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into the house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Highbury

Highbury rental properties require a reliable heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it may require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Highbury

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air is much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Highbury

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier for the house to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 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

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 with The Healthy Homes Standard in Highbury include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Highbury for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.