Healthy Homes Assessment Timberlea

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea 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 new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new or renewed 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 tenancy is signed on a Timberlea rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised 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 building they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, 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 up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on your rental property.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Timberlea, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who reported at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Timberlea rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Timberlea rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Timberlea

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within your house need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will examine all doors and windows as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Timberlea

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

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must include a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the quality because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Timberlea

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able open to the outside and remain closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Timberlea

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy for the home to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Timberlea Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and stop it from coming inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Timberlea

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with The Healthy Homes Standards in Timberlea include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Timberlea for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for when conducting an house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.