Healthy Homes Assessment Melling

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Melling rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as fully qualified to assess 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, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that landlords with multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent in New Zealand and Melling, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Melling rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Melling rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about getting a Melling Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Melling

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements 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 gap or hole that is, it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of the home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will check all doors and windows during 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 Melling

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

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it may require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Melling

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about recognising the fact that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight needs at least to open up to the outside and remain closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Melling

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes more easy to allow the house to retain heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Melling Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue that can cause damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper 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 making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Melling include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Melling for Rental Properties

There are many things to be able to examine when conducting the 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 waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home assessment.