Healthy Homes Assessment Avalon

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 Avalon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’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 any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Avalon, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Avalon rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Avalon rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Avalon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Avalon

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Avalon

Rental properties in Avalon require a reliable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space 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 well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Avalon

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Avalon

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

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

Avalon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important 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 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 in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Avalon

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Avalon include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Avalon for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.