Healthy Homes Assessment Island Bay

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 must make sure 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 in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be completed and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Island Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be taken care of 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 taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Island Bay, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Island Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in 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 as Draught Stopping within Island Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Island Bay

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out of your home need seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the home is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Island Bay

Island Bay rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter 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 heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may require a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Island Bay

Each living space within the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

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

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, but remain closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Island Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the house to keep 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 insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Island Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Island Bay

Property rental areas that are affected through Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Island Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Island Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to look over when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.