Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords are now required 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 fully certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work required. requirements to be completed and provide a report with all the information required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthier homes relevant fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified 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 brand new or renewed contract is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for the Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to supply the necessary information within 21 days of receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the person who is leasing the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and make arrangements to have a house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Birchville, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Birchville rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less costs of maintenance over the long term.

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

Begin now by calling about having a Birchville Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within houses. A damp house is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole that is, it is likely a crack or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out of your house need seals. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as possible.

You don’t require to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will inspect all windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important for healthy houses

Heating Birchville

Birchville rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. 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 requirements to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum heating capacity needed to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to determine if the current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Birchville

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding how dry air will be less difficult to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not living spaces and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space and will also check for the proper extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Birchville

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and damp, as well as making much easier for the house to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest area 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and stop it from coming inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it is often those things that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue that can cause the property to suffer and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is a vital aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor 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

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standard in Birchville include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to look over when conducting the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there 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 enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home evaluation.