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 effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must 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 can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Clouston Park rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for 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, as well as Draught stopping on Clouston Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Clouston Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will examine the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Clouston Park

Clouston Park rental properties must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

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

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Clouston Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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

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

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Clouston Park

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.