Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

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 must ensure that their Harbour View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully 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 will assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as 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 contract is signed on a Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Harbour View, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Harbour View rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping within Harbour View rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within your home need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Harbour View

Harbour View rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it could need some additional energy to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Harbour View

Each living space within a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This 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.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Harbour View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making an easier task to the household to retain the heat.

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

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

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

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

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem that can cause damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Harbour View

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Harbour View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine when conducting the house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.