Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Lyall Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Lyall Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed 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 any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days of receiving the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research suggests that rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the quality of Lyall Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Lyall Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Lyall Bay

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure 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 building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the building when the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Lyall Bay

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

The source of heating needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it might need an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be more easy to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Lyall Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes an easier task to allow the household to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Lyall Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from getting into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this 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 to Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Lyall Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.