Once your property complies
with the Healthy Homes Standards, it’s essential to ensure ongoing compliance. Any installations or provisions made to meet these standards must be kept in good working order and replaced if they cannot be maintained.
When landlords become aware of a maintenance or repair need (not caused by the tenant), it must be addressed within a reasonable timeframe. What qualifies as a ‘reasonable timeframe’ depends on factors such as the availability of industry professionals, replacement parts, and components.
Landlords or property managers should keep tenants informed of the progress of any maintenance or repairs and maintain records of the process, such as the dates professionals were contacted. This record-keeping is a requirement under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA).
To maintain compliance with Healthy Homes standards, follow these steps:
**At the Start of a Tenancy:**
– Include the Healthy Homes Standards compliance statement in the tenancy agreement and update it with any new information.
– Show tenants how to keep the heater and ventilation system clean and tidy. This might include demonstrating how to clean devices and filters and advising on keeping gardens or lawns clear of external units.
– Provide tenants with information on using the heater and ventilation system, and remind them to report any maintenance or repair issues promptly.
**During Regular Inspections and at the End of the Tenancy:**
– Check that the heater and ventilation system are in good working order, including fixtures, fittings, and replacing any filters.
– Ensure the insulation is still in good condition, with no holes or gaps, and meets the standard.
– Inspect gutters, downpipes, and drains to confirm they are functioning correctly.
– If the property has an enclosed subfloor, verify that the ground moisture barrier remains in good condition.
– Ask tenants if they have noticed any new drafts in the rental.
– Inspect seals, sealants, or blockages to ensure they effectively prevent drafts.
– Plan any necessary work to maintain the standards as soon as possible and keep your tenant informed of the plan.
**During the Tenancy:**
Ray White Rotorua property managers encourage tenants to report any needed repairs and maintenance during a tenancy and at routine inspections. This helps ensure awareness of any required maintenance, maintaining compliance with Healthy Homes Standards. Although we conduct maintenance checks during routine inspections, we can only identify issues that don’t require looking under the house or in ceilings. Therefore, it is recommended that when tradespeople attend to repairs at a rental property, they check other items to ensure they remain in good condition. For example, if a plumber repairs an indoor tap, they should also inspect the gutters, downpipes, and drains.