Healthy Homes Assessment Silverstream

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Silverstream rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to 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 will evaluate your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely qualified to assess 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Silverstream rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Silverstream rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

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

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Silverstream, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the quality of Silverstream rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping on Silverstream rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Silverstream Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Silverstream

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in households. A humid house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely a crack or hole that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out into your house require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Silverstream

Rental properties in Silverstream must have a fixed source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to top up with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may require some additional energy to make sure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the quality as they are either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Silverstream

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be much easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or skylight requirements at least open to the outside and remain closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Silverstream

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and will also make it easier for the house to retain warmth.

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

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, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area 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 below floor R 1.3

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Silverstream Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually not apparent that it could be a huge problem, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage for the removal of floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Silverstream

Property rental areas that are affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Silverstream include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Silverstream for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replenishment or replacement?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist guidance, contact us today and book your rental properties home assessment.