Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

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 must make sure their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully certified to assess 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 Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 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. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Breaker Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Breaker Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home is more expensive 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 sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Breaker Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier for the household to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Property rental areas that are affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Breaker Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.