Healthy Homes Assessment Brooklyn

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 now have to make sure 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 fully 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 assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which 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 meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Brooklyn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Brooklyn rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Brooklyn, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Brooklyn rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Brooklyn rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Brooklyn Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brooklyn

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Brooklyn

Rental properties in Brooklyn must have a fixed source of heat that is able to heat the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed 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 small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must include an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need a top up to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on 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 offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Brooklyn

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make much easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Brooklyn Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Brooklyn

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Brooklyn include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Brooklyn for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.