Healthy Homes Assessment Melling

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure that their Melling rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager about the work that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Melling rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Melling, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Melling rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will be safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

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

Begin now by calling about getting a Melling Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Melling

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building as the home is heated and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Melling

Rental properties in Melling require a reliable source of heat that can heat the living room to at least 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just need an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Melling

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside and remain closed to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation 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 standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Melling

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement to all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and will also make an easier task to allow the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Melling Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the 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 floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Melling

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

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Melling for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home assessment.