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 effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure that their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals 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 assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work that needs to be done, and provide an assessment report that includes all the information needed for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of 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 healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental property, 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 new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to be aware that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $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 wallet hard, and result in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and request an home assessment done for your rental property.

Find the full information on the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower psychological well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Ascot Park rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health as well as lessen disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping on Ascot Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ascot Park

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in households. A cold home will cost 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 or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a gap or hole that is, it is most likely a gap or hole which needs sealing in somehow. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out within your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can cause draughts and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will check all windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Ascot Park

Rental properties in Ascot Park must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as heat pumps, it may need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air will be much easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Each window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside and remain closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will need suitable extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Ascot Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and will also make much easier to allow the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well the insulation can withstand 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 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

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the inside; you have to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently those concerns that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps prevent water damage to the floor 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 Ascot Park

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standard in Ascot Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check during an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of a tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.