Healthy Homes Assessment Cannons Creek

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Cannons Creek rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Cannons Creek rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

Contact us now to discuss having a Cannons Creek Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your house need sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the home warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Cannons Creek

Cannons Creek rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Cannons Creek

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy for the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Cannons Creek Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically not apparent that it could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid 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.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Cannons Creek

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Cannons Creek include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.