Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

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

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Birchville, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Birchville rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Birchville rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Birchville

Birchville rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the living space 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 health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it might require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Birchville

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Birchville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to the house to hold 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 can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

Property rental areas that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Birchville include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• 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 the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.