Healthy Homes Assessment Eastbourne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Eastbourne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be done, and provide the 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 violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who provide 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 being the person who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Eastbourne rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into your home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Eastbourne

Eastbourne rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Eastbourne

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Eastbourne

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make it easier for the household to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from entering the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Eastbourne include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.