Healthy Homes Assessment Houghton Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Houghton Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be completed and offer the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Houghton Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is also important to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent from New Zealand and Houghton Bay, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Houghton Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Houghton Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Houghton Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Houghton Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within houses. A cold house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out within your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the household heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Houghton Bay

Houghton Bay rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might just require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Houghton Bay

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Houghton Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Houghton Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Houghton Bay

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Houghton Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Houghton Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.