Healthy Homes Assessment Gracefield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Gracefield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified 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 to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be done and provide the report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in 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 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Gracefield, and research indicates that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Gracefield rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

Get started now and contact us about the Gracefield Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Gracefield

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home require sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Gracefield

Rental properties in Gracefield should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most 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 heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Gracefield

Every living space in a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. We offer a 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 areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Gracefield

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the home to keep heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Gracefield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Gracefield

The areas of rental property that are affected with the Healthy Homes Standard in Gracefield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Gracefield for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.