Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be done and provide a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

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

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Birchville, and research has shown that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Birchville rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from the home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Birchville

Rental properties in Birchville need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the 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 like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it could require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Birchville

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Birchville

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy for the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Birchville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.