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 ensure their Homedale rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 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 is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Homedale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

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

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any 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 and it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in 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 house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Homedale, and research shows us that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Homedale rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Homedale

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in houses. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within your house require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Homedale

Rental properties in Homedale require a reliable source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it should include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Homedale

Every living space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air is less difficult to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Homedale

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, 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 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Homedale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Homedale

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Homedale include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Homedale for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during an house review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.