Healthy Homes Assessment Brown Owl

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Brown Owl rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new 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 to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Brown Owl, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Brown Owl rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Brown Owl rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brown Owl

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Brown Owl

Rental properties in Brown Owl require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Brown Owl

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Brown Owl

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require 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 an easier task for the household to hold warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Brown Owl Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm 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 buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Brown Owl

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Brown Owl include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Brown Owl for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including 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 solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.