Healthy Homes Assessment Cannons Creek

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 make sure that their Cannons Creek rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified 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 Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Cannons Creek rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Cannons Creek rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Cannons Creek Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your house need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the home is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Cannons Creek

Cannons Creek rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Cannons Creek

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

This ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Cannons Creek

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make more easy for the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required 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 – all part 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 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Cannons Creek Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Cannons Creek

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Cannons Creek include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.