Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and request a home assessment performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Ascot Park rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping within Ascot Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Ascot Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ascot Park

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Ascot Park

Rental properties in Ascot Park must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as an air conditioner, it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Ascot Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

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

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ascot Park

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Ascot Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.