Healthy Homes Assessment Linden

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Linden rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully certified 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 assess your rental property to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be completed, and offer the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Linden rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Linden rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $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 resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Linden, and research shows us that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Linden rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Linden rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Linden Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Linden

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap, then it is likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Linden

Linden rental properties require a reliable heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, 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 as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a central heating source, such as the heat pump, it may require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Linden

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dried air can be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Linden

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task for the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Linden Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Linden

The areas of rental property that are affected through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Linden include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Linden for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to book your rental properties home assessment.