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 must 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 must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be done, and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are completely certified 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who have several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Homedale, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Homedale rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts can lead to less temperature in houses. A cold house costs more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out of the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Homedale

Homedale rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it requirements to include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Homedale

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to allow the home to retain heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well 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 – The rest 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent 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 The Healthy Homes Standard in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.