Healthy Homes Assessment Clouston Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st 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 the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be done and provide a 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 breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely certified for each of 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Clouston Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Clouston Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Clouston Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from the home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Clouston Park

Rental properties in Clouston Park should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 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 health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether 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 such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it may need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Clouston Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier for the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm 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 structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor 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 by The Healthy Homes Standards in Clouston Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to check in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house evaluation.