Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Harbour View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified for 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being 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.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and request an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Harbour View, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported at least four major issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Harbour View rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Harbour View rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Harbour View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Harbour View

Harbour View rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Harbour View

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air is less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. We offer a 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 high moisture areas.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Harbour View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy to the household to hold heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• 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.

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent 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 Harbour View

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Harbour View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house assessment.