Healthy Homes Assessment Lyall Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

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

The areas covered in 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 about the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information required for 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 found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, and are fully qualified to evaluate both 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 need to be done inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords with multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have an home inspection performed on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Lyall Bay, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have 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 minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as 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 dropping temperatures within households. A humid house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within the house need sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for well-being houses

Heating Lyall Bay

Lyall Bay rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need a top up to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Lyall Bay

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is a healthy home

Insulation Lyall Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make much easier to allow the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the 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 and 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 moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is usually what you don’t see that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Lyall Bay

Rental property areas affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Lyall Bay include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Lyall Bay for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home assessment.