Harcourts Accommodation Centre explain that the various Healthy Homes Standards were developed and became law on 1 July 2019, but they do not come into effect until 1 July 2021 for some properties. From 1 July 2021, private landlords must ensure their rental properties comply with the Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy. The final date for all rental properties to be compliant with the Healthy Homes Standards is 1 July 2024, which means that owners of rental properties have time to work out what they need to do, and then do it to ensure they comply with the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act. However, you don’t want to be left in a rush, so Harcourts Accommodation Centre have a quick summary of what you need to know.
For the Heating Healthy Homes Standard the main living room must have a fixed heating device that can heat the room to at least 18 degrees and there is a rather complex calculation that works this out for each room.
Regarding the Insulation Healthy Homes Standard the minimum level of ceiling and underfloor insulation must either meet the 2008 Building Code, or for existing ceiling insulation have a minimum thickness of 120mm, and be in reasonable condition with no dampness, damage or displacement.
The Ventilation Healthy Homes Standard says there should be sufficient openable windows in habitable rooms, and mechanical ventilation in all bathrooms and kitchens, and the Moisture Ingress and Drainage Healthy Homes Standard means properties must have adequate drainage and guttering to remove water from the dwelling, and if a rental property has an enclosed subfloor space, then it must have an on-ground moisture barrier.
The Draught Stopping Healthy Homes Standard states that any gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors and doors that cause unreasonable draughts, must be blocked. This includes all unused open fireplaces and chimneys.
Harcourts Accommodation Centre’s recommendation to their clients is to have a detailed assessment completed. These will involve completing a thorough inspection of the property, getting up on the roof, getting into the ceiling space, going under the floor where possible, taking various measurements, completing the heat loss calculation, checking heating and ventilation hardware, and taking lots of images to support the findings.
It’s added peace of mind when a professional who knows and understands the Standards well is able to provide a thorough assessment, with recommendations to meet the standard if that is required. You can contact the Harcourts Accommodation Centre team for more information on having your property managed and meeting all the Healthy Homes Guarantee Act Standards, and for more information on tenants advice services, online rent applications and property managers please go to https://assetmanagers.harcourts.co.nz/ .
