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 July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate each of 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 for a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out 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 up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Churton Park, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Churton Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Churton Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no 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 building when the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Churton Park

Rental properties in Churton Park need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it needs to have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Churton Park

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Churton Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the house to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Churton Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during a home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.