Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Lyall Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks which requirements to be done and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding 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 necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more 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 and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the quality of Lyall Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Lyall Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Lyall Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Lyall Bay

Lyall Bay rental properties need to have a stable source of heating which can warm the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Each living space within the rental property should contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dried air can be much easier to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Lyall Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy for the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed 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, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lyall Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards 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 things to look over in an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home assessment.