Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Crofton Downs rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be done and offer a 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 who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to assess 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Crofton Downs rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Crofton Downs rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Crofton Downs

Crofton Downs rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs to be able open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Crofton Downs

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes an easier task to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and 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 floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Crofton Downs

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Crofton Downs include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home evaluation.