Healthy Homes Assessment Cannons Creek

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Cannons Creek 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 that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

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

It’s also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Cannons Creek rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control on Cannons Creek rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Cannons Creek Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Cannons Creek

Rental properties in Cannons Creek should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Cannons Creek

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making it easier to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this 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 it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Cannons Creek

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standard in Cannons Creek include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.