Healthy Homes Assessment Boulcott

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to make sure their Boulcott rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to check whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

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

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

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in penalties of up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there’s also a fine of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named 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.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who own several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Find the full information on this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Boulcott, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Boulcott rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and living because of diseases. Your investment is also better safeguarded 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 requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control in Boulcott rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Boulcott

Draughts are a major cause of low temperatures inside households. A cold home costs more to heat, meaning wasting money and energy.

If a draft can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air flowing in or an unobstructed draught coming from a hole or gap that is, it’s probably a gap or hole that requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be fixed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out within the house need the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened instead of than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Boulcott

Boulcott rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living space to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heating needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to achieve the standard since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Boulcott

Every living space of a rental property must include at least one open window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising how the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a well ventilated rental property is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Boulcott

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory for all rent houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In some cases, an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might need to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, and it will make more easy for the household to hold heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Boulcott Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about the interior of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and to prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it is typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

The ground-moisture barrier usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Boulcott

The areas of rental property that are affected by The Healthy Homes Standards in Boulcott include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Boulcott for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check in an home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in require of topping up? require replacement or topping?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist guidance, contact us today to book your rental property house assessment.