Healthy Homes Assessment Newlands

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure their Newlands rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Newlands rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

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

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Newlands rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Newlands rental properties.

Start now and call about having a Newlands Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Newlands

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside houses. A damp house costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into the house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow movement of the building when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will test every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Newlands

Rental properties in Newlands should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. 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 needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

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

Get the complete information regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Newlands

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

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

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Newlands

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is mandatory in all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Newlands Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Newlands

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Newlands include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Newlands for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home assessment.