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? The landlords are now required to ensure 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 rentals must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done and provide a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified for both 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Cannons Creek rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Cannons Creek rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Cannons Creek

Rental properties in Cannons Creek need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient 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 aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Cannons Creek

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier for the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Cannons Creek Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Cannons Creek

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Cannons Creek include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.