Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure 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 completely 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 assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, 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

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Homedale, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Homedale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Homedale rental properties.

Start now and call about the Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the building as the household warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Homedale

Homedale rental properties must have a fixed heating source 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 indoor temperature 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) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump then it must have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Homedale

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, as well as making more easy for the home to hold heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of 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, 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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during the home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.