Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done, and offer the report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties as well as completely certified for each of 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home inspection performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on 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 Ascot Park, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Ascot Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping for Ascot Park rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Ascot Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ascot Park

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Ascot Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier to allow the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ascot Park

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Ascot Park include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.