Healthy Homes Assessment Elderslea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Elderslea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with 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 up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and 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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Elderslea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is important to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Elderslea, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Elderslea rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Elderslea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Elderslea

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the house warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Elderslea

Rental properties in Elderslea need to have a stable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Elderslea

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, and stay set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Elderslea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes more easy to the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists 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 – all 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Elderslea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in 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 quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Elderslea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standard in Elderslea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Elderslea for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home evaluation.