Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Crofton Downs 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 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 your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done, and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Crofton Downs rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Get started now and contact us about getting a Crofton Downs Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy houses

Heating Crofton Downs

Rental properties in Crofton Downs need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on 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 outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it could require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Each liveable space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Crofton Downs

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and also makes an easier task to the home to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet 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 is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Crofton Downs

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standards in Crofton Downs include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.