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 must ensure 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 fully 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 if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work required. needs to be done and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, we are completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for an Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Ascot Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an home inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Ascot Park, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the standard of Ascot Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health as well as lessen disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Ascot Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having 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 dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home costs more to heat, which means wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps 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 the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no require to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the house warms and cools to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Ascot Park

Ascot Park rental properties require a reliable source of heating that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. In most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. In some instances, like small apartments an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it could need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Ascot Park

Every living space of a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dry air will be much easier to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door or the skylight requirements at least open to the outside while remaining set in an opening position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other area in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems which are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Ascot Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to the household to keep warmth.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The higher the R-value, the higher the quality of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ascot Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that can cause a lot of trouble and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of 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 doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and the ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The 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 by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Ascot Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ascot Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things you should look for during a home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and the draught is stopped?
• 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 tenant solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.