Healthy Homes Assessment Brooklyn

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Brooklyn rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Brooklyn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Brooklyn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home evaluation performed for 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 so important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Brooklyn, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Brooklyn rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew 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, and Draught stopping within Brooklyn rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Brooklyn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brooklyn

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being houses

Heating Brooklyn

Brooklyn rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Brooklyn

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Brooklyn

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes it easier for the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists 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 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Brooklyn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of The 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 with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards 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 concerns you should look for in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.