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? Landlords now have to make sure 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 rental properties are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re completely certified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Eastbourne, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Eastbourne rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the house is heated and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Eastbourne

Rental properties in Eastbourne require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it could need an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Eastbourne

Every living space in the rental property should include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Eastbourne

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and will also make more easy to allow the home to keep warmth.

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

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

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

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Eastbourne include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during a home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental properties house assessment.