Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

• Draught Stopping
• Heating
• Insulation
• Ventilation
• Moisture Ingress & Drainage

We will evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that landlords with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Alicetown, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Alicetown rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Alicetown rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A damp house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will examine every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Alicetown

Rental properties in Alicetown need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to have an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Alicetown

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that dried air can be much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Alicetown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the household to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.