Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks which needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested 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 an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Alicetown, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who report at least four major house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Alicetown rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping within Alicetown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside households. A humid home will cost more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or an opening that needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out of your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the building as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will examine all doors and windows in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy houses

Heating Alicetown

Alicetown rental properties need to have a stable heating source which can warm the living space to at least 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it requirements to be equipped with a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like the heat pump, it might just require some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Alicetown

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open to the outside, but remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that vent towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Alicetown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The higher the R-value, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically not apparent that it could become a major issue and cause the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor 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 Alicetown

Rental property areas affected through The Healthy Homes Standards in Alicetown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in a house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties house evaluation.