Healthy Homes Assessment Ebdentown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Ebdentown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 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 to check whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified for each of 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Ebdentown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Ebdentown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request a home evaluation performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Ebdentown, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Ebdentown rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Ebdentown rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Ebdentown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ebdentown

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the structure as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Ebdentown

Rental properties in Ebdentown must have a fixed heating source that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform 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 apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Ebdentown

Each liveable space in a rental home must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Ebdentown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make it easier for the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more efficient the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Ebdentown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the property. 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 Ebdentown

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Ebdentown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ebdentown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine during the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.