Healthy Homes Assessment Avalon

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 must make sure that their Avalon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified for 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 on an Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s important to note that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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 in New Zealand and Avalon, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Avalon rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Avalon rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Avalon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Avalon

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Avalon

Rental properties in Avalon should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW 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 determine whether your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Avalon

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Avalon

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to the house to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Avalon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Avalon

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Avalon include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Avalon for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.