Healthy Homes Assessment Fairfield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Fairfield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified 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, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Fairfield, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Fairfield rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Fairfield rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Fairfield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Fairfield

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all windows and doors as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Fairfield

Rental properties in Fairfield must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it may need some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Fairfield

Every living space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Fairfield

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making more easy to the home to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Fairfield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Fairfield

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Fairfield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Fairfield for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.