Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with each of Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current when the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an home assessment done on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Alicetown, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

Enhancing the standard of Alicetown rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house require the sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as much as possible.

There is no need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the house heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will check every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for healthy homes

Heating Alicetown

Alicetown rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to at least 18degC, even on the most 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 heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require 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 for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source such as an air conditioner, it may need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Alicetown

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore do not require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside, but remain closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Alicetown

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and also makes more easy for the home to keep warmth.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Alicetown 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; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and also 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 the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from getting into the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the 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

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine in an house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenant services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.