Healthy Homes Assessment Gracefield

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 are now required to make sure that their Gracefield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals 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 to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be completed, and offer a report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an 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 the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Gracefield, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Gracefield rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, 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, and Draught Stopping in Gracefield rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Gracefield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Gracefield

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Gracefield

Gracefield rental properties require a reliable source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it may need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Gracefield

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans which are vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Gracefield

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make an easier task to allow the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Gracefield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Gracefield

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Gracefield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Gracefield for Rental Properties

There are many things to check in a house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes 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 tenant solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties house assessment.