Once your property meets the healthy homes standards, landlords need to make sure that the property stays compliant. If something is installed, or provided, to meet any of the healthy homes standards, it must be maintained in good working order. If it cannot be kept in good working order, it must be replaced.
As soon as landlords are made aware that something needs maintenance or repair (through no fault of the tenant), it must be remedied within a reasonable timeframe. A ‘reasonable timeframe’ will differ from situation to situation, depending on the availability of appropriate industry professionals, replacement parts and components.
Landlords (or their property manager) should keep tenants updated on the progress of any maintenance or repairs and keep records of the process, for example; dates professionals were contacted. Keeping records is a requirement of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986 (RTA).
To keep your rental property compliant with the healthy homes standards, follow these steps:
At the start of a tenancy
• Include the healthy homes standards compliance statement in the tenancy agreement and ensure that it has been updated with any new information
• Show tenants how to keep the heater and the ventilation system reasonably clean and tidy. This could include how to clean the device and its filters, and information about keeping gardens or lawns clear of any external units
• Give information to tenants about how to use the heater and ventilation system and remind them to report any maintenance or repair issues as soon as possible.
During regular inspections and at the end of the tenancy
• Check that the heater and ventilation system are in good working order. This could include checking its fixtures and fittings and replacing any filters
• Check the insulation is still in good condition (for example, there are no holes or gaps) and continues to meet the standard
• Check the gutters, downpipes and drains are still working correctly
• If the property has an enclosed subfloor, check the ground moisture barrier is still in good condition
• Ask the tenants if they’ve noticed any new draughts in the rental
• Check any seals, sealant or blockages that need to be maintained to ensure they prevent any draughts coming in or out of the property
• Plan any work that needs to be done to maintain the standards as soon as you can. Keep your tenant updated on the plan.
During the tenancy
Harcourts property managers encourage tenants to report any repairs and maintenance required during a tenancy and at routine inspections. This ensures that we are aware of any maintenance that may be required, and we therefore maintain compliance with the healthy homes standards. Whilst we conduct our own maintenance checks at routine inspections, we can only identify the items that don’t require looking under a house or in ceilings, therefore it is recommended that when tradespeople attend to repairs at a rental property, that they conduct checks to other items to ensure that they also remain in good condition. For example, if a plumber is attending the property to repair a tap inside, they should also check the gutters, downpipes and drains.
read more at tenancy.govt.nz