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 July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Birchville rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects 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 is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the work which requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, in addition, we’re fully certified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Birchville rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s crucial to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may face even higher fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed for your rental property.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

A majority of households the property in New Zealand and Birchville, and research has shown that these rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who report at least four key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the standard of Birchville rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping within Birchville rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Birchville

Draughts increase the likelihood of low temperatures inside houses. A humid home costs more to heat, which results in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear out of a hole or gap and you are able to feel it, it is likely to be a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit within your house need to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t need to block holes or gaps which are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect every window and door in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Birchville

Rental properties in Birchville should have a permanent heating source that can heat the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll need to "top-up" with an additional heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, like small apartment buildings, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source like the heat pump, it might require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Birchville

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to grow damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability open to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that are vented to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Birchville

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is a requirement for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and also makes much easier to the household to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

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

Birchville Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and ground, a ground water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Birchville

Property rental areas that are affected to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Birchville include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Birchville for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over when conducting a house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including 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 an Tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property managers and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today and book your rental properties home assessment.