Healthy Homes Assessment Days Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Days Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully compliant 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to be aware that landlords who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and request a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Days Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Days Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Days Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Days Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Days Bay

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A cold home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Days Bay

Days Bay rental properties require a reliable heating source which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Days Bay

Each living space within a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Days Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

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

Days Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Days Bay

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Days Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Days Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.