Healthy Homes Assessment Boulcott

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Boulcott rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be completed, and offer a report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Boulcott rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

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

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and is updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also crucial to note that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face greater penalties for non-compliance. The highest penalties are given for serious breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined as high as $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Contact us now and ask us to conduct a house inspection performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Boulcott, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative well-being results, specifically for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Boulcott 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 will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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 Boulcott rental properties.

Begin now by calling about having a Boulcott Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Boulcott

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside homes. A draughty house will cost more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that 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 must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

There is no need to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Boulcott

Boulcott rental properties require a reliable source of heat that is able to heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether the permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must include the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as the heat pump, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Boulcott

Each liveable space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an venting fan outside to eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that dry air is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing for fresh air circulation and air flow.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented out to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A dry and warm house is an ideal home

Insulation Boulcott

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is mandatory on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest quality. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy to the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values 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, better 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Boulcott Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s typically not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and also that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your rental has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the home. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Boulcott

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

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Boulcott for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine in the house review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today and book your rental property house evaluation.