Healthy Homes Assessment Gracefield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Gracefield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified to assess both 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 tenancy is signed for a Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed within 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease contract as the person who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Gracefield, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the standard of Gracefield rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Begin now by calling about receiving a Gracefield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Gracefield

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Gracefield

Rental properties in Gracefield need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could need an update to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Gracefield

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Gracefield

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to allow the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Gracefield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture 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 prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Gracefield

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Gracefield include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Gracefield for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.