Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Lyall Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified 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, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is completed, and is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households from New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Lyall Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control on Lyall Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A damp house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will examine all windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is important for healthy homes

Heating Lyall Bay

Lyall Bay rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that is able to heat the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it might need a top up to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Each liveable space in a rental home must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation quality is about recognising the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Lyall Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation meets current quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and will also make it easier for the household to hold warmth.

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

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

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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and 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 an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 through The Healthy Homes Standard in Lyall Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house assessment.