Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with 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 up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to note that landlords with several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment done for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Ascot Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well 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 can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it may need an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Every living space of a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

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

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside and remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Ascot Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make an easier task for the household to keep warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Ascot Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.