Healthy Homes Assessment Fairfield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know 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 any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in 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. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Fairfield, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Fairfield rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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

Start now and call about having a Fairfield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Fairfield

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in houses. A humid home costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of your home require seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household heats and cools, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Fairfield

Fairfield rental properties must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Fairfield

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Fairfield

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, more efficient the insulation.

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

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

Fairfield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the 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 the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Fairfield

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Fairfield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Fairfield for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to be able to examine during an home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.