Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified for 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to note that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Birchville, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Birchville rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Birchville rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole that is, it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Birchville

Birchville rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Birchville

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Birchville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to allow the household to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standard in Birchville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.