Healthy Homes Assessment Island 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 July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Island Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a 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 evaluate your rental property and 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 tasks which requirements to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is also important to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed on your rental property.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Island Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Island Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Island Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A damp house costs 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 needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a crack or a gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out within your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy houses

Heating Island Bay

Rental properties in Island Bay need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Island Bay

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air is much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Island Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes much easier to the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 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

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often not apparent that it can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, 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 stop any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Island Bay

Rental property areas affected with Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home evaluation.