Healthy Homes Assessment Days Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Days Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be completed, and offer 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 breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified 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, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Days Bay, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Days Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping on Days Bay rental properties.

Start now and call about the Days Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Days Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating 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 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 and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Days Bay

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Days Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy for the house to hold heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Days Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Days Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Days Bay include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Days Bay for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.