Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Harbour View 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 must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to 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 tasks required. needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as completely qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Harbour View, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Harbour View rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control in Harbour View rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Harbour View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the household warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Harbour View

Harbour View rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like a heat pump, then it might need an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Harbour View

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding it is that dry air is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Harbour View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy for the household to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, 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 the 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 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. 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 Harbour View

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Harbour View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.