Healthy Homes Assessment Timberlea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Timberlea rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any 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 satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be done, and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, 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

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It is crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and request a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Timberlea, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Timberlea rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about the Timberlea Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Timberlea

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A cold house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear out of a hole or gap that is, it is most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into your home require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the building when the household heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being homes

Heating Timberlea

Rental properties in Timberlea need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Timberlea

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising that dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need appropriate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Timberlea

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to the house to hold the heat.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the 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, underfloor R 1.3
• 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Timberlea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring 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 Timberlea

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Timberlea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Timberlea for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.