Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in 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 healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other 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 as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Homedale, and research shows us that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating and have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Homedale rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping on Homedale rental properties.

Start now and call about getting a Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the home need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to cover up holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will test all doors and windows in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Homedale

Homedale rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it should have a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Homedale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to the home to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

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

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps in preventing 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 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 a myriad of concerns to be able to examine when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental property house assessment.