Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to 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 rentals are required to be fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any work which needs to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified for both 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 or renewed contract is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

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

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It is crucial to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may receive greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious 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.

Clearly, failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and request a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Ascot Park rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

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

Contact us now to discuss getting a Ascot Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ascot Park

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which needs sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will inspect every window and door during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Ascot Park

Rental properties in Ascot Park should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the main or largest living space to at least 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small 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 source, it must include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more reliable 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 small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality since they’re either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Ascot Park

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding how the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Ascot Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the household to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

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 Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine in a home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For expert advice, call now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.