Healthy Homes Assessment Alicetown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must 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 fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in 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 standards. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified to assess both 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on an Alicetown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Alicetown, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Alicetown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Alicetown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Alicetown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Alicetown

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a crack or a gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out from the home need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will inspect all doors and windows in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Alicetown

Alicetown rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source, such as heat pumps, it might require an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to comply with the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Alicetown

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening door or window to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require suitable extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Alicetown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to allow the household to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Alicetown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water is able to go, and it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between your floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Alicetown

The areas of rental property that are affected to the Healthy Homes Standard in Alicetown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Alicetown for Rental Properties

There are many concerns to be able to examine during an home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the space under the floor covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house assessment.