Healthy Homes Assessment Avalon

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Avalon rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to evaluate each of 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on an Avalon rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the one who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as associated work has been completed.

It is important to keep in mind that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and request an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households homes in New Zealand and Avalon, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who report four or more major housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Avalon rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping for Avalon rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about the Avalon Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Avalon

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole that is, it is likely to be a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your house need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever possible.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement within the building when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Avalon

Avalon rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing permanent 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 portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might just need an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to meet the standard as they are either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Avalon

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

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

Each door, window or the skylight needs at least to open to the outside, and stay closed, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Avalon

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some instances, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to the home to hold the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies 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 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all part of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Avalon Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building it’s also about the outside. You must ensure there is somewhere for surface or ground water and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage for the removal of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

An underground moisture barrier typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture from the ground from getting into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Avalon

The areas of rental property that are affected to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Avalon include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Avalon for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to look over during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today and book your rental property home evaluation.