Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Crofton Downs 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified for each of 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Crofton Downs rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping in Crofton Downs rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Crofton Downs Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Crofton Downs

Rental properties in Crofton Downs require a reliable source of heating that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like the heat pump, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Crofton Downs

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to allow the household to retain warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Crofton Downs

The areas of rental property that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Crofton Downs include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home assessment.