Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Lyall Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that requirements to be completed, and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be maintained through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is also important to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Lyall Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping in Lyall Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Lyall Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out of the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Lyall Bay

Lyall Bay rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the main or largest living space to at least 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it could need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will need suitable extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Lyall Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor has been compulsory for all rent homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make more easy to the household to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lyall Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Lyall Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check when conducting a house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.