Healthy Homes Assessment Ascot Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Ascot Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely 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, renewed or varied contract is signed on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement letter and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and request an house assessment performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. In addition, people who report at least four major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Ascot Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living due to illnesses. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping for Ascot Park rental properties.

Start now and call 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 low temperatures inside houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit within your home require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house is heated and cools so that they can still be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can heat the main or largest living room to at least 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 heating needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the 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 acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating or heat pump it needs to include the thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like a heat pump, then it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ascot Park

Each living space within a rental house must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside and remain set in an opening position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A warm dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Ascot Park

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and dampness and it will make much easier to the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and 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 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

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have effective drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into 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 standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Ascot Park

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standards in Ascot Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in the house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.