Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re 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

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 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 inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or 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.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s crucial to note that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment done for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Harbour View, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the standard of Harbour View rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Control for Harbour View rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Harbour View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from the house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Harbour View

Harbour View rental properties need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump, then it must have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it could require some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Harbour View

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air is more easy to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Harbour View

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of 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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Harbour View

The areas of rental property that are affected through The Healthy Homes Standard in Harbour View include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.