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 now have to ensure their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate both 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 brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers who offer a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated throughout the tenancy as any related work is completed.

It is also important to remember that a landlord with several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket and result in significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have a home assessment done for your rental property.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households homes in New Zealand and Birchville, and research suggests that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Birchville rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping for Birchville rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within households. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit into your house need seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as possible.

There is no require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of the building as the house warms and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will test every window and door during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure healthy homes

Heating Birchville

Rental properties in Birchville must have a fixed source of heat which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options for those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat source, it should have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might need a top up in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Birchville

Each living space within a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about understanding the fact that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallways are not liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs at least open to the outside, and stay at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Birchville

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to allow the household to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

Learn more about 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 Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Birchville include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for when conducting the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of 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 require of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental properties home assessment.