Healthy Homes Assessment Clouston Park

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be completed and offer a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Clouston Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Heating Clouston Park

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

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

Insulation Clouston Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to allow the household to retain warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Rental Property Home Assessments Clouston Park

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

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

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.