Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Breaker Bay 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 completely 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 evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Breaker Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within 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 are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need an upgrade to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay closed to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Breaker Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 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 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in 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 standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Breaker Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient 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 being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.