Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

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?

One in three households from New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Breaker Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Breaker Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Each liveable space in a rental house must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Breaker Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making an easier task for the house to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the 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 underfloor 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 the 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 the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside 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 is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the 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 Healthy 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 numerous concerns to check during the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.