Healthy Homes Assessment Fairfield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Fairfield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We are 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

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Fairfield, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the quality of Fairfield rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Fairfield

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out into your house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building when the home is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Fairfield

Fairfield rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Fairfield

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Fairfield

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make much easier to allow the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 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.

Fairfield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Fairfield

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standard in Fairfield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Fairfield for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.