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? Landlords now have to ensure their Riverstone Terraces rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely in compliance by July 1st 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be done and offer the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified for both 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, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Riverstone Terraces rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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 Riverstone Terraces, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Riverstone Terraces rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well Draught stopping within Riverstone Terraces rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Riverstone Terraces Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Riverstone Terraces

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Riverstone Terraces

Riverstone Terraces rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump then it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Riverstone Terraces

Every living space in the rental property should have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open up to the outside, but remain set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is a healthy house

Insulation Riverstone Terraces

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make more easy for the home to hold heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Riverstone Terraces 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 make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Riverstone Terraces for Rental Properties

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

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.