Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Breaker Bay 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 are required to 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 evaluate your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about the tasks which needs to be done and offer the report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes relevant fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to assess 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, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work need to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done within 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they could receive an infringement letter and be fined upto $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It is updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also crucial to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved for serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to adhere to the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with large 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.

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

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally have lower quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Breaker Bay rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught Stopping within Breaker Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts may lead to less temperature in households. A cold house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a gap or hole or crack, then it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit into the house require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure as the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will inspect all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay require a reliable source of heat that can heat the largest or main living area to at minimum 18degC even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with an thermostat. This makes the heating more uniform and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source, like an air conditioner, it might require an update to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Every living space of the rental property should have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. Furthermore, moist spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is about recognising how dry air will be less difficult 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. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or skylight requirements to be able of opening to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home that has shower, bath or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will need adequate extractor fans that vent towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Breaker Bay

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and will also make more easy to allow the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs 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 is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of rainwater, storm water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and also that it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture present in the ground from entering the building. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Rental property areas affected to The Healthy Homes Standard in Breaker Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to be able to examine during a home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional advice, call today to book your rental property home evaluation.