Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can 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’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done and offer the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Homedale, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Homedale rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Homedale rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out from your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy houses

Heating Homedale

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

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Homedale

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Homedale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and will also make much easier to allow the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

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

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Homedale

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home evaluation.