Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

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

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It’s important to be aware that landlords who have several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an house inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Alicetown, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Alicetown rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Alicetown rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap, then it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being houses

Heating Alicetown

Rental properties in Alicetown need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it could need an update to ensure it meets the requirements. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Alicetown

Each living space within a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay set in an opening position in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that vent out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm house is an ideal house

Insulation Alicetown

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the 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 underfloor 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

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

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside it is also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often the concerns you don’t notice that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of 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 through Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to check during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist assistance, get in touch today to book your rental properties home evaluation.