Healthy Homes Assessment Seatoun

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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Seatoun rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and 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 offer an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified for both 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Seatoun rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on a Seatoun rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or amended 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 relate to the home they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Seatoun, and research shows us that these rental houses tend to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improve the standard of Seatoun rental property can allow tenants to experience 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 damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Seatoun rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Seatoun Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Seatoun

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or crack that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Seatoun

Seatoun rental properties should have a permanent heating source which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, 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 heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. In most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Seatoun

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able to open to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Seatoun

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task to the household to retain heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Seatoun Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the home. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Seatoun

The areas of rental property that are affected to Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Seatoun include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Seatoun for Rental Properties

There are many things to check during a home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.