Healthy Homes Assessment Riverstone Terraces

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Riverstone Terraces rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed 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 assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be done, and offer the report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to note that a landlord who have several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Riverstone Terraces, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Riverstone Terraces rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping for Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss receiving a Riverstone Terraces Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within the house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure as the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than securing. We will test the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Riverstone Terraces

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

The source of heat needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the 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 such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it might just require a top up in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one openable window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air will be much easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t liveable and are not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements to be able open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords should ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make more easy to allow the house to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the quality of 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, underfloor 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 the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Riverstone Terraces Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Riverstone Terraces include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to look over when conducting an home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties house assessment.