Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals 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 check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified 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 Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Churton Park 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 illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance 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 Draught stopping for Churton Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A damp home costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Churton Park

Churton Park rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, 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 as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t 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 then it must have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Churton Park

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the home to hold heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Churton Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.