Healthy Homes Assessment Glenside

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Glenside rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 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 to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Glenside, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Glenside rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Glenside rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of your home require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Glenside

Glenside rental properties require a reliable source of heating that is able to heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

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

If the living area already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Glenside

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Glenside

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation is up to current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make much easier to allow the house to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

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

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

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Glenside

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Glenside include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over during the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property house assessment.