Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 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 the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any work required. 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 meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed contract is signed on the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet each of Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notification and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s important to note that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in massive fines as well as still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Alicetown, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Improve the quality of Alicetown rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Alicetown rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A draughty home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to block holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the house is heated and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Alicetown

Alicetown rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the existing fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it should have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Alicetown

Every living space in a rental property must contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to be able open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Alicetown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the house to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem that can cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Areas of rental properties that are impacted with the Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things you should look for in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties home evaluation.