Healthy Homes Assessment Pinehaven

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 make sure their Pinehaven rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of 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 relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re completely certified to evaluate 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 new or renewed contract is signed on a Pinehaven rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to 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 provide the necessary information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Pinehaven, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the standard of Pinehaven rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping for Pinehaven rental properties.

Start now and call about the Pinehaven Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Pinehaven

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out within the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the building as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Pinehaven

Rental properties in Pinehaven require a reliable source of heat which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Pinehaven

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Pinehaven

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation meets current standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the house to retain heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 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.

Pinehaven Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from rising into the home. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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 Pinehaven

Property rental areas that are affected with Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Pinehaven include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Pinehaven for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine during the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home in relation to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties home evaluation.