Insulation
Depending on what you may have done to meet the existing 2016 insulation requirements , some existing insulation in rental properties will need to be topped up or replaced in order to comply with the new healthy homes standards .
What are the existing requirements ? The 2016 insulation requirements state that ceiling and underfloor insulation must be installed in rental homes since 1 July 2019 and every tenancy agreement must include a compliant insulation statement . Existing rental properties should already comply , however , if you have recently purchased a new rental property we strongly recommend adhering to the healthy homes insulation requirements outlined in this guide , as you will be required to do so anyway . Failure to comply with insulation standards can result in penalties of up to $ 4,000 .
What is the difference between the healthy homes standards and existing insulation requirements which became compulsory from 1 July 2019 ? Landlords who installed all new insulation to meet the 2016 insulation requirements should meet the healthy homes standards as long as the insulation is still in reasonable condition .
Insulation is not considered to be in a reasonable condition if there are signs of damage . This could include :
• Dampness , mould , water damage
• Rips and tears
• Gaps in the insulation coverage , except where safety clearances are required
• Settlement or compression below 120mm of depth
• Pests ( eg rodents or insects ) or bird nests
• Any other damage or contamination .
From 1 July 2021 , the higher healthy homes insulation standards applied to all new or renewed tenancies . The minimum R-value allowable for ceiling and underfloor insulation increased from this date for any properties that may have already had insulation on 1 July 2016 , yet did not require updating at that time .
A number of landlords with rental properties that had existing insulation at 1 July 2016 may not have needed to previously upgrade their insulation . Landlords of these properties ( likely to have had insulation installed between 1978 and 2008 ) will now need to upgrade the insulation to meet the healthy homes standards .
What are the healthy homes insulation requirements ? Insulation requirements under the healthy homes standards are measured by R-value . Minimum required R-values vary across New Zealand , as shown in the map below .
Zone 1 Ceiling R 2.9 , underfloor R 1.3
Zone 2 Ceiling R 2.9 , underfloor R 1.3 Zone 3 Ceiling R 3.3 , underfloor R 1.3
The healthy homes insulation standard increases the minimum standard for existing insulation , and some homes may require a ceiling insulation ‘ top-up ’ or new underfloor insulation . The healthy homes insulation standard requires all rental homes to have insulation consistent with the 2008 building code or , for existing insulation it must be at least 120mm thick . If a home has less than 120mm of ceiling insulation , then this must be topped up , or new insulation installed in order to meet the healthy homes minimum R-value requirements .
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