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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Fairfield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the information required 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 landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess each of 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 contract is signed on a Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Fairfield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is important to note that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Fairfield, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improve the quality of Fairfield rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

Start now and call about receiving a Fairfield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Fairfield

Draughts can lead to less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within your house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Fairfield

Rental properties in Fairfield require a reliable heating source which can warm the living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Fairfield

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Fairfield

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier for the home to hold the heat.

Insulation needs 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 is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Fairfield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Fairfield

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Fairfield include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Fairfield for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home assessment.