Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 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 renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant 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 and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully certified to evaluate 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, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Lyall Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Lyall Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in households. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of your house need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Lyall Bay

Rental properties in Lyall Bay need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it should have an thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it may require a top up to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy house

Insulation Lyall Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory to all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and it will make much easier for the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically the things you don’t notice that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lyall Bay

Rental property areas affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Lyall Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in an house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home assessment.