Healthy Homes Assessment Clouston Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for 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 who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Clouston Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Clouston Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into the home need to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Clouston Park

Clouston Park rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Clouston Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Clouston Park

Rental property areas affected to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Clouston Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check when conducting a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.