Healthy Homes Assessment Churton Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure 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 must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

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

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Churton Park, and research shows us that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Churton Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Churton Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Churton Park

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Churton Park

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

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it might require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Churton Park

Every living space of a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Churton Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Churton Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Churton Park

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standards in Churton Park include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Churton Park for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house assessment.