Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Houghton Bay 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 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties we are completely qualified to assess 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on the Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research shows us that these rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Houghton Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping for Houghton Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Houghton Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure as the home heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Houghton Bay

Rental properties in Houghton Bay should have a permanent source of heat which can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is 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) with at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Houghton Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the home to hold warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of 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 comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Houghton Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting a home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home evaluation.