Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Churton Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified for 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 work need to be done by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Churton Park, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Churton Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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 Churton Park rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having 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 lower temperatures in households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is 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 flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Churton Park

Rental properties in Churton Park require a reliable source of heating which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it might need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Churton Park

Each liveable space in a rental house must include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, but remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Churton Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement to all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making much easier to the household to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists 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 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Healthy Homes Standards. 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 things to look over in the home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.