Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

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? Landlords must ensure that their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely 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 can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation 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 related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Churton Park rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Churton Park rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Churton Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Churton Park

Churton Park rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Churton Park

Every living space of a rental home must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Churton Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Churton Park 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 for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Churton Park include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over during a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.