Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy contract’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 any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes connected fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified to assess 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 for a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the one who is who is letting the property which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also crucial to remember that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house evaluation performed for your rental property.

Get the full description of the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Birchville, and research has shown that these rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular conditions. In addition, people who have reported at least four key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Improve the standard of Birchville 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 is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Birchville rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A cold home costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be felt through gaps that are too large or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap, then it is probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out of the house need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace is not in use, it may cause draughts and should be shut off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for the movement of 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 check every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Find the complete specifications regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being houses

Heating Birchville

Rental properties in Birchville must have a fixed source of heat that can heat the main or largest living space to a minimum of 18degC even on 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 well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) with at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to "top up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must be equipped with an thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and effective. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like a heat pump, then it may need an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the quality since they’re either inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications regarding details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Birchville

Each living space within a rental property has to have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about acknowledging that the dry atmosphere is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

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

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Birchville

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required in all rental houses from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure the insulation meets current standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and will also make it easier for the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a gauge of how well the insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

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

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

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface as well as groundwater to move and stop it from coming inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage for the removal of storm water, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a location to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also assists in preventing water damage to the floor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are many concerns you should look for during a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a tenant solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home evaluation.