Healthy Homes Assessment Birchville

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rentals are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess the rental property you have in order to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an evaluation report with all the information needed for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully certified 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, if a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if a 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 can ask for details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of up to $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person who is responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate before the tenancy agreement can be executed, and it is updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it is finished.

It is also important to remember that landlords who manage multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property call us now and arrange to have a house inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent from New Zealand and Birchville, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more major home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Improving the quality of Birchville rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living because of diseases. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs over the long term.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in homes. A cold house costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole 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 in or out from your house need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Birchville

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

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum heating capacity needed in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current installed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it must include a thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source like heat pumps, it might just need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Birchville

Each liveable space in a rental home must contain at minimum one open door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

A ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with shower, bath cooker or any other moisture generating item will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate 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 home is an ideal house

Insulation Birchville

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make an easier task to the home to hold warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the 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 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about the inside It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could become a major issue and end up causing the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go, and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from entering the home. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

Rental property areas affected by The 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 concerns you should look for in an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For expert advice, call today to book your rental properties house evaluation.