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 July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified for both 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 new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request a home assessment done for your rental property.

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?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Homedale, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported at least four major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Homedale rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping on Homedale rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Homedale

Homedale rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might just need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Homedale

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising how dried air can be easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. Our 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 high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Homedale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make more easy for the home to keep the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

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

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

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Homedale

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The 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 you should look for in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a Tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.