Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure that their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must 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 evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks that needs to be completed and provide an assessment report that includes all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely qualified 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it must be updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are handed down for severe violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account 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 arrange to have an home assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who report four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the quality of Ascot Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illnesses. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Ascot Park rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Ascot Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ascot Park

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole which needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into your house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated as much as possible.

There is no require to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important for well-being houses

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties need to have a stable heating source that is able to heat the living area to at minimum 18degC even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it should be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a permanent heating source, like heat pumps, it may require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about understanding that dry air will be less difficult to heat and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or Skylight requirements to have the ability open to the outside while remaining closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Ascot Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to the house to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is typically what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier 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 to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ascot Park

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Ascot Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine during a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental properties house evaluation.