Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? 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 renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be done and provide the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Breaker Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Get started now and contact us about having a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Breaker Bay

Breaker Bay rental properties require a reliable source of heat which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the 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 heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it needs to have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it may require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening door or window.

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Breaker Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to allow the household to hold the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Breaker Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.