Healthy Homes Assessment Homedale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be done and offer a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on 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 inside of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting 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 before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of details on 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 indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Homedale rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance 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 Draught stopping within Homedale rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Homedale Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A damp home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Homedale

Rental properties in Homedale require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the existing fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must be equipped with the thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Homedale

Each living space within the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be less difficult to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Homedale

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and will also make much easier for the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• 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 floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the 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 by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.