Healthy Homes Assessment Silverstream

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Silverstream rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that requirements to be done and provide the report with 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 breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, in addition, we’re 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 tenancy is signed on a Silverstream rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy contract as the person renting the property, 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 up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to note that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households in New Zealand and Silverstream, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Silverstream rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment is also safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Control within Silverstream rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Silverstream Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Silverstream

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most 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 and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit of the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement within the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will examine every window and door in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Silverstream

Silverstream rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat source, it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Silverstream

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about acknowledging it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Silverstream

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Silverstream Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Silverstream

Rental property areas affected with the Healthy Homes Standards in Silverstream include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Silverstream for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to check during an home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.