Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to 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 will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work that requirements to be done, and offer a report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are fully qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing 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 lease agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be current before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and request a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes can have negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who report at least four key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

The improvement in the standard of Ascot Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and daily life due to illness. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Ascot Park rental properties.

Start now and call 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 less temperature in homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out from the house require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will test the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Ascot Park

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that dry air will be less difficult to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain closed, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Ascot Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation has been compulsory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with current standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, and will also make more easy for the home to hold warmth.

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

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

• 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ascot Park

The areas of rental property that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Ascot Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine when conducting an home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property house evaluation.