Healthy Homes Assessment Brooklyn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Brooklyn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with 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 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Brooklyn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Brooklyn, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Brooklyn rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Brooklyn rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Brooklyn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brooklyn

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Brooklyn

Brooklyn rental properties must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a central heating source like an air conditioner, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Brooklyn

Each living space within a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside, but remain closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Brooklyn

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of 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 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Brooklyn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Brooklyn

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Brooklyn include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Brooklyn for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental property house assessment.