Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Alicetown, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Alicetown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control for Alicetown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Alicetown

Rental properties in Alicetown should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Alicetown

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Alicetown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and also makes it easier to allow the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part 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 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Alicetown include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.