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 must ensure their Eastbourne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified to evaluate 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Eastbourne, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improving the quality of Eastbourne rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

Contact us now to discuss the Eastbourne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A cold home will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Eastbourne

Eastbourne rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source such as heat pumps, it may need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Eastbourne

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Eastbourne

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier for the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house evaluation.