Healthy Homes Assessment Manor Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Manor Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be completed 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 of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 healthier homes relevant fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely certified to assess 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 new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Manor Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Manor Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Manor Park, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who report four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Manor Park rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Manor Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Manor Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Manor Park

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A damp home will cost more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the household warms and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Manor Park

Manor Park rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to have an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Manor Park

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Manor Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to the household to keep heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• 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 this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Manor Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps in preventing 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 Manor Park

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through the Healthy Homes Standards in Manor Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Manor Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.