Healthy Homes Assessment Glenside

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified for 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, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

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

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Glenside, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Glenside rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Glenside rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Glenside Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Glenside

Glenside rental properties need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it must include an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Glenside

Each living space within a rental home must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Glenside

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier to the household to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Glenside

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Glenside include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.