Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

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 make sure that their Lyall Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

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

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified for 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can 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 amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who report four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Lyall Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Lyall Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the home require seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Lyall Bay

Rental properties in Lyall Bay need to have a stable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the 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 requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Lyall Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier for the household to hold heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient the 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from entering the property. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Learn more about 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 through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Lyall Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in a house review to determine if 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 moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.