Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure their Birchville 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 completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be done and offer a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental properties and are completely qualified for both 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to a fine of up to $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the property manager is unable to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it must be updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to remember that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Contact us now and request an house assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Birchville, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who reported at least four key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Birchville rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping on Birchville rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out into your house need seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement within the structure as the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will check all doors and windows 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 important for healthy homes

Heating Birchville

Birchville rental properties should have a permanent heating source that can warm the living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

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 in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine whether the current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll 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 the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is electric heating or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like an air conditioner, it could require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Birchville

Every living space of a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about understanding that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway are not considered living spaces and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight requirements for them to be in a position open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems which are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Birchville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory on all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, as well as making much easier to allow the household to keep heat.

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 can withstand heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water is able to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

The areas of rental property that are affected by Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Birchville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to check when conducting the house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.