Healthy Homes Assessment Melling

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 are now required to ensure their Melling rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 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 check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer the report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’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 in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to assess both 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 brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on the Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have a house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Melling, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Melling rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping within Melling rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Melling Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Melling

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the household heats and cools, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Melling

Rental properties in Melling must have a fixed heating source that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat source, it must include a thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Melling

Each liveable space in a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Melling

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to the household to keep heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder area 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 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Melling Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and prevent it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

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

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Melling

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Melling include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Melling for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during an house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.