Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. needs to be completed and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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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 on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Breaker Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Breaker Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Breaker Bay

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

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Breaker Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes an easier task to allow the home to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Breaker Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in a house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and 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 sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.