Healthy Homes Assessment Eastbourne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Eastbourne 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 completely 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 will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely certified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Eastbourne, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Eastbourne rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Eastbourne rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Eastbourne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Eastbourne

Eastbourne rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Eastbourne

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Eastbourne

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, as well as making it easier for the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Eastbourne include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.