Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed 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 can assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Churton Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Churton Park, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the quality of Churton Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Churton Park rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Churton Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. 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 holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Churton Park

Churton Park rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like the heat pump, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Churton Park

Every living space of a rental house must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Churton Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making an easier task to the household to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Churton Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.