Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Crofton Downs rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and request an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improve the standard of Crofton Downs rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Start now and call about the Crofton Downs Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a hole or gap that is, it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Crofton Downs

Rental properties in Crofton Downs should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Crofton Downs

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• 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 quality.

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about the 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 with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Crofton Downs include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over in an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental property home evaluation.