Healthy Homes Assessment Vogeltown

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? Landlords must ensure that their Vogeltown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done, and provide a report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations 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 as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, and are fully qualified to assess each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6777

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Vogeltown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be finished inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Vogeltown, and research shows us that these rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major issues with their housing often have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Vogeltown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Vogeltown rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Vogeltown

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out from your home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Vogeltown

Vogeltown rental properties must have a fixed heating source that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it requirements to have an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and efficient. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it could need an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to comply with the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Vogeltown

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about understanding how dry air will be much easier to heat, and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability of opening to the outside while remaining fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Vogeltown

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and will also make more easy to allow the home to retain warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Vogeltown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Vogeltown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Vogeltown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Vogeltown for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for during an house assessment to see if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.