Healthy Homes – Health benefits positive

For those in property management, assessing and implementing healthy homes standards is now considered an integral part of the property manager’s role.

Some larger organisations have the resources to employ a dedicated compliance person to oversee this task.

Often, we do not take the time to step back and look at the extremely positive impact these improvements are having and will continue to have on the health of many tenants. While there will always be debate from investors about some of the standards, adequate insulation, heating, and ventilation are integral to a healthy home environment.

The Healthy Homes initiative began back in 2013, with the support of Government agencies and District Health Boards. This was initially part of the anti-rheumatic fever campaign of the early 2010s. This was expanded to cover many aspects of healthier housing in New Zealand.

Data has now started to indicate how improving the quality of accommodation is reducing hospitalisations and sickness, particularly in children. According to Ministry of Health information, up to the end of 2018, there had been more than 15,000 successful submissions to the Healthy Homes initiative to assist with insulation, heating, and ventilation. An evaluation was made late in 2019 to see how this has impacted the core mission of the programme. The evaluation estimates that for every ten children referred to the programme, there were six fewer filled prescriptions, six fewer GP visits and one less child in hospital during the next year.

This equates to 1,533 fewer hospitalisations, 9,443 few GP visits; and 8,784 fewer medicines for children in homes that took advantage of the programme.

As an industry we are working hard to bring rental properties up to the required Healthy Homes Standards. It will take some time for the figures from this to filter through, however, the benefits so far from the Healthy Homes initiative have translated into significant savings for the health sector. A single night in hospital can cost the taxpayer more than $1,000. Improving living conditions in previously damp homes is a win for everyone.

The Government recently extended the 1 July 2020 deadline for the Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance out to 1 December 2020. From 1 July 2021, private landlords must ensure that their rental properties comply with the HealthyHomes Standards within 90 days of any new tenancy.

Jo Rae, Head of Property Management, REINZ