Healthy Homes Assessment Riverstone Terraces

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Riverstone Terraces rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. 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 to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to evaluate both 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with significant fines and still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request a home assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Riverstone Terraces, and research indicates that rental homes tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Riverstone Terraces rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Riverstone Terraces Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out of the home require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Riverstone Terraces

Riverstone Terraces rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested 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) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must include an thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required to all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to allow the home to keep warmth.

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

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Riverstone Terraces Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

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

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces

Property rental areas that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Riverstone Terraces include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over in a home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to book your rental properties home evaluation.