Healthy Home Compliance Report

YOUR ONE STOP SHOP ---

INSULATION

The new HHS insulation standard has most of the same requirements as the 2016 standard. The main difference with the new HHS is that the minimum thickness of existing ceiling insulation has increased from 70mm to 120mm. Anything less than 120mm of ceiling insulation is deemed to not be in reasonable condition and new insulation will need to be installed.

If you had new insulation installed after July 2016, in order to comply with the 2016 insulation and smoke alarm standard, your property should already meet the new requirements. Healthy Home Solutions supplies and installs Knauf Earthwool-Glasswool insulation. Knauf is one of the world’s largest and most respected insulation companies, they produce high performing, safe ceiling and underfloor insulation products.

MOISTURE INGRESS & DRAINAGE

This part of the standard requires that the premises have an efficient drainage system and that any enclosed sub-floor has a ground moisture barrier installed.

Our assessors will be looking to see that gutters and downpipes are intact, free from obstructions and are flowing to an outfall.

For any properties that don’t meet the standard, our team is able to clean and repair gutters and downpipes as well as install ground moisture barriers. Our assessment does not cover any below ground drainage elements.

HEATING

The heating standard requires that the main living area of the property can be heated to an internal temperature of 18c. This needs to be achieved by using a fixed heating source. If the required heating capacity of the living areas is greater than 2.4kw, then the heater needs to be a heat pump, flued gas heater or an efficient wood or pellet burner.

We will assess the property and calculate the required heating capacity of the main living area and establish whether any existing heaters meet the requirements.

If the property isn’t compliant then our experienced assessor will be able to specify and provide a quotation for a qualifying heater to be installed by our team of tradespeople.

VENTILATION

The ventilation standard requires that the premises have a working extraction fan in each kitchen and bathroom that vents to the outdoors, and that each habitable space has an openable window or door to the outside of the property.

Our assessors will inspect each habitable space, bathroom and kitchen to ensure compliance with the standard.

Our experienced tradespeople are on hand to complete any extraction installs or maintenance work on windows and doors to ensure the standard is met. We have sourced a range of extraction options for the kitchen and bathroom that will suit all property types and budgets.

DRAUGHT STOPPING

In order to comply with this section of the standard, the premises need to be free of any holes or gaps in the external building elements that let in unreasonable draughts.

Our assessors will inspect all common sources of holes or gaps in your property such as windows and doors to establish compliance with this section of the standard.

For any non-compliant areas of the property, we can provide a quotation to draught proof the property using cost effective draught proofing methods.

We manage the entire process to minimise disruption to you and tenant, and we organise all communication with tenants to arrange installation times.

COMPLIANCE

We make compliance easy. We will ensure that all requirements for the RTA (Healthy Homes Standards) are met for your property.

As part of our total service we will supply you with the following documentation that can be added to the property file and tenancy agreement:

Certificate of Compliance for each section of the property that complies with the standards. These certificates can be used as proof to MBIE that the property complies with the regulations.

WHAT PARTS OF YOUR HOME NEED TO BE COMPLIANT?

conduct a thorough inspection to identify which aspects of your home fail to meet the Healthy Homes Standards.

Whole House

There must be no unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, skylights, floors, and doors, as these may be responsible for causing noticeable draughts.
Ceiling insulation must be at least 120mm thick, be in reasonable condition, and adhere to the 2008 Building Code minimum, meeting the R-value for your zone.
Underfloor insulation must meet a minimum R-value of 1.3.
Unused fireplaces and chimneys must be closed off.
If your property has an enclosed subfloor, it must have a ground moisture barrier.
There must be at least one photoelectric smoke alarm on each level of the property.

Kitchen

Must have windows, doors, or a skylight, that can be fixed open and are more than 5% of the floor area.
There must be no noticeable draughts.
Must have an extractor fan that vents to the outside.

Living Room

An approved fixed wall heater sufficient to heat the largest living room to at least 18 degrees.
Must have windows, doors, or a skylight, that can be fixed open, and are more than 5% of the floor area.
There must be no noticeable draughts.

Bathroom

Must have an extractor fan that vents to the outside.
There must be no noticeable draughts.

Bedrooms

Must have photoelectric smoke alarms within 3m of each bedroom door.
Must have windows, doors, or a skylight, that can be fixed open, and are more than 5% of the floor area.
There must be no noticeable draughts.

Gutters, Downpipes, & Drainage

There must be efficient drainage for removal of water.
Must be unblocked and in good working condition.

WHO DO THESE STANDARDS IMPACT?

The Healthy Homes Standards affect landlords and their tenants. Landlords are required by law to meet the minimum housing requirements set out in the Healthy Homes Standards. If a landlord is non-compliant, a tenant can apply to the Tenancy Tribunal for a monetary order and/or a work order. The Tribunal may award a financial penalty of up to $7,200 against the landlord, which is usually paid to the tenant.

WHEN DO PROPERTY FIXES NEED TO BE COMPLETED?

From 1st July 2021, landlords must ensure that all rental homes comply with the Standards within 120 days of any new or renewed tenancy. By 1st July 2025, all rental homes must comply with the Standards, regardless of when the tenancy began.