Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

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 now have to make sure their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed 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 will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks required. requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and request a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Homedale, and research indicates that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Homedale rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Homedale rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can 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 from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of the 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 healthy homes

Heating Homedale

Rental properties in Homedale should have a permanent heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising that dry air is easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Homedale

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the household to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Homedale

Rental property areas affected through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home 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 getting on the wrong side of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.