Healthy Homes Assessment Fairfield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be completed, and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’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 found to not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Fairfield, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Fairfield rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Get started now and contact us about having a Fairfield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Fairfield

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into the house require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Fairfield

Fairfield rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need an update to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Fairfield

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dried air can be less difficult to heat and that a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable and are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Fairfield

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make more easy for the house to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher 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 remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Fairfield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Fairfield

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

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Fairfield for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property home assessment.