Healthy Homes Assessment Eastbourne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Eastbourne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 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 and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties we are fully certified 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a house assessment done 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?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Eastbourne, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Eastbourne rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Eastbourne rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Eastbourne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A humid house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Eastbourne

Eastbourne rental properties must have a fixed heating source which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC 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 heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as heat pumps, it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Eastbourne

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Eastbourne

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the home to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the concerns 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.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Eastbourne include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.