Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Alicetown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks that requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are completely certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

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

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is crucial to note that a landlord who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down only for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Contact us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done 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

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 likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses can have negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Improving the standard of Alicetown rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in less maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within the home need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Alicetown

Alicetown rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump, it must have the thermostat. This will make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a central heating source such as heat pumps, it may require an update to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Alicetown

Every living space of a rental house must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about recognising that dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside and remain closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Alicetown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, and also makes more easy to the household to retain warmth.

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

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

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

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Alicetown include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are numerous things you should look for in a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.