The housing market continues to go from strength to strength, with record low interest rates. Why you should be looking for your next investment property.
In particular, the demand for clean, warm, dry homes is very high. Properties that tick those boxes are receiving multiple applications, meaning there are plenty of quality tenants to choose from.
With this in mind, let’s see more in detail the Healthy Homes standards coming into force for new https://nzdaisuki.com/classified/housetenancies from July 2021. While they are regulations all properties must meet, working on them sooner rather than later will ensure your property is desirable for new tenants.
In the shorter term, the first stage of the Healthy Homes changes is just around the corner, with the deadline for compliance statements rapidly approaching. After 1 December 2020, all tenancy agreements must include detailed information about how a property meets the standards.
Making your property clean, warm and dry
When it comes to property upgrades, we understand these can often be a significant cost to landlords. However, many of those covered under the Healthy Homes standards will ensure your property can continue to be a good investment for many years to come. And summer is a great time to start projects to ready your property for the next cold season.
Here are some basics questions to help you assess your property:
Heating standard – does your property: - Have one or more fixed heaters that can directly heat the main living room? Are these an acceptable type and meet the minimum heating capacity required for the space?
Insulation standard – ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since 1 July 2019, so you should already have this covered.
Ventilation standard – does your property: - Have openable windows in all habitable rooms, that can be fixed in the open position? Does the kitchen and bathroom have an extractor fan?
Moisture and drainage standard – does your property: - Have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water? Does the drainage system include gutters, downpipes and drains for the removal of water from the roof?
Draught stopping standard – does your property: - Have any unreasonable gaps or holes in walls, ceilings, windows, skylights, floors and doors which cause noticeable draughts?