Healthy housing! Frequently hitting the news headlines and widely debated by our politicians, new laws are now being put into place that will affect all private landlords and tenants.
Landlords, do you know what is required of you? There are two very important compliance timelines, as follows:
1) Insulation and smoke alarm requirements, by 1 July 2019.
2) New, minimum “Healthy Home” standards regarding heating, insulation, ventilation, moisture, and draughts required by 1 July 2021 (to become law mid-2019).
1) By 1 July 2019 all rental housing requires:
INSULATION
Ceiling and underfloor insulation needs to be at least 120mm thick. Landlords who have installed new insulation since 2016 should already meet the required (2008) Building Code.
You may think your rental property already complies with ceiling and underfloor insulation, but it may not! Make sure you check (see our article for standard details http://dominionproperty.nz/blog/new-rental-insulation-standards)
SMOKE ALARMS
Working smoke alarms or detectors are compulsory in all rental homes. Landlords must ensure they:
· are working at the start of each new tenancy
· remain in working order during the tenancy (tenants are responsible to replace dead batteries)
Existing smoke alarms do not need to be replaced if they’re working, and haven’t passed the expiry date.
New smoke alarms must be photoelectric and have a long battery life (at least 8 years), or be hard-wired. They must be installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions and meet international standards.
Smoke alarms must be installed:
· within 3 metres of each bedroom door, or in every room where a person sleeps.
· in each level or story of a multi-story or multi-level home.
· in all rental homes, boarding houses, rental caravans, and self-contained sleep-outs.
2) By 1 July 2021 all rental housing requires:
That private landlords ensure rental properties comply with the healthy home standards within 90 days of any new tenancy.
HEATING
A heater that can heat the main living area to 18 degrees Celsius.
Some heating devices are inefficient, unaffordable or unhealthy to run, e.g. an unflued gas heater, and therefore will not be approved.
INSULATION
As for 1) above.
VENTILATION
Kitchens and bathrooms to have extraction fans or range-hoods.
INGRESS protection & DRAINAGE
Have adequate drainage and guttering to prevent water entering the home (which reinforces an existing law).
A ground moisture barrier installed to stop moisture rising into the home where there is an enclosed subfloor space.
DRAUGHT STOPPING
Block draughts that make a home harder to heat. This includes gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, floors, and doors that cause noticeable draughts, including blocking unused fireplaces and chimneys.
Please be aware that MBIE’s Tenancy Services Compliance and Investigation team are undertaking up to 2,000 risk-based interventions every year, inspecting properties to ensure compliance with the standards.
Don’t be caught out! Landlords that fail to comply with the healthy homes standards may be liable for a financial penalty of $4,000.
Remember you’re both preserving the value of your asset, and protecting lives.