Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Harbour View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified for both 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, if 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 within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Harbour View, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Harbour View rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Harbour View rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Harbour View

Rental properties in Harbour View must have a fixed heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest 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 well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Harbour View

Each liveable space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining closed to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Harbour View

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes it easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the 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 with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Harbour View include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.