Healthy Homes Assessment Normandale

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Normandale 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 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 and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be done, and offer a report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes related fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified for 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 new or renewed contract is signed on a Normandale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Normandale rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Normandale, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Normandale rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Normandale rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Normandale

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off gaps or holes which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the building as the home warms and cools in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Normandale

Normandale rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can heat the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of 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 determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it might require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Normandale

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or Skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Normandale

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values required for your area

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Normandale Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently what you don’t see that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Normandale

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Normandale for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties house evaluation.