Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess each of 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 brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or property manager fails to supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date 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 also crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet 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 call us now and request an home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes can have negative health results, specifically for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improve the quality of Ascot Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping in Ascot Park rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Ascot Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ascot Park

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in homes. A damp home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it is likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow movement of the building as the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather than sticking. We will check the windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it may require some additional energy to ensure it meets the requirements. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Each liveable space in a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to offer natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated 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 do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your house that houses shower, bath cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outdoors. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Ascot Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to allow the house to retain the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often what you don’t see that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from entering the home. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring 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 Ascot Park

Rental property areas affected by The Healthy Homes Standard in Ascot Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check when conducting an house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house evaluation.