Healthy Homes Assessment Ebdentown

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 ensure that their Ebdentown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information required 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 found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Ebdentown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Ebdentown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also important to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house 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?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Ebdentown, and research indicates that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Ebdentown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Ebdentown rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Ebdentown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ebdentown

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will test every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Ebdentown

Rental properties in Ebdentown require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with 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 could be used to determine whether the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to include a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ebdentown

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be more easy to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Ebdentown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the house to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Ebdentown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your 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 Ebdentown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standards in Ebdentown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ebdentown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.