The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) is today calling for an extension to the Healthy Homes deadline as
there is a high likelihood the next deadline will be missed by a number of landlords as a result of COVID-19.
Under the requirements, from 1 July 2020 all landlords must include a statement of their current level of compliance
with the Healthy Homes Standards in any new, varied or renewed tenancy agreement.
However, due to COVID-19 landlords and property managers have been unable to access properties since the country went
into Alert Level 4 lockdown and therefore, may miss the deadline due to the backlog of properties.
Bindi Norwell, Chief Executive at REINZ says: “Before the country went in lockdown on Thursday 26 March, landlords and
property managers across the country were working hard to meet the 1 July deadline.
“However, since lockdown, landlords and property managers have been unable to access rental properties to allow
qualified tradespeople to complete compliance statements. As inspections are required by either qualified tradespeople
or people with ‘sufficient, relevant experience’ it now means there is a backlog of properties to be assessed and
therefore, that Compliance Statements may be unable to be completed by the deadline causing delays to a tenancy
commencing,” she continues.
“We wrote to the Housing Ministers nearly a month ago flagging that this was likely to become an issue, but we are yet
to receive a reply,” points out Norwell.
“Once we move into Level 2 we assume that more tradespeople will be able to recommence inspections, but given the
bottleneck that has been created we are calling for the compliance deadline to be extended for by two months until 1
September,” concludes Norwell.Notes to Editors
Inspections by qualified tradespeople (or people with sufficient, relevant experience) are necessary given the type of
information required for Compliance Statements, including:For each ceiling insulated, either the insulation’s R-value and, if known, the date it was installed and when it was
last inspected, or the thickness of the insulation and, if known, the date when it was last inspectedFor each underfloor space the insulation’s R-value and, if known, the date it was installed and when it was last
inspectedFor each ceiling and suspended floor that isn’t insulated, the reason why notIf a landlord relies on the tolerance or ‘top-up’ allowance for existing heaters, they will need to state this, with a
brief description of why it appliesA statement that the rental property has an efficient drainage systemEither, that the property does not have any enclosed subfloor spaces or that each enclosed subfloor space has a ground
moisture barrier.