Healthy Homes
Wednesday 29 May 2019
Recently, the Healthy Homes Bill was passed by Cabinet. Tenancy Services have produced basic guidelines and have said that from July they will provide more detail and calculators for clarification - no need to rush into any changes as yet. Right now, landlords should ensure their property complies with the 2016 insulation standards before 1 July 2019.
In a nutshell, for privately rented properties, key dates and details are:
- 1 July 2019: new tenancy agreements state that the landlord will comply with the standards and landlords will need to record details of compliance.
- 1 July 2020: new varied or renewed tenancy agreements must include a statement of the property’s current level of compliance
- 1 July 2021: landlords must comply with the standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy
- 1 July 2024: All rental homes must comply with the standards
It won’t be too tricky for most properties to comply; some will require some form of upgrades. Essentially it’s about;
- Heating the main living area with a fixed, cost-effective heat source
- Insulation to the 2008 Building code (3.3 ceiling R Rating in this area).
- Opening windows in habitable spaces and extractor fans in shower, bathroom and where cooking is carried out.
- Adequate guttering, drainage and a moisture barrier if the underfloor is enclosed draught stopping by way of sealing cracks, gaps, holes and any unused fireplaces.
Our Summit Property Managers can assist you with making sure your property is compliant, give us a call today to learn more about how we can make your life easier.
