Healthy Homes Assessment Riverstone Terraces

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Riverstone Terraces rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. needs to be done and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed 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 under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties as well as 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, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in massive fines as well as still being required to comply with the regulations. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an house assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent in New Zealand and Riverstone Terraces, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Riverstone Terraces rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Riverstone Terraces Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts may lead to less temperature in homes. A damp home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the home need the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household is heated and cools to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Riverstone Terraces

Rental properties in Riverstone Terraces require a reliable source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, and it will make much easier to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Riverstone Terraces Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces

Property rental areas that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Riverstone Terraces include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in a house review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental property home evaluation.