Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must make sure their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, and are completely qualified for both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of within 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they will receive an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out It could also be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It is updated during the entire tenancy, as associated work has been completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

It is clear that failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, 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 call us now and ask us to conduct an house assessment done on your rental property.

Check out the complete details of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major issues with their housing often have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Breaker Bay rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Breaker Bay rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss having a Breaker Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid house will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in somehow. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into the home require the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow movement of the building as the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect all windows and doors as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Breaker Bay

Breaker Bay rental properties should have a permanent heating source that is able to heat the living space to at least 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it might just need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Breaker Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture spaces like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising it is that dry air will be easier to heat and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight needs at least open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will need adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is a healthy home

Insulation Breaker Bay

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory for all rent homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should ensure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated property will reduce the risk of condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness as well as making an easier task to allow the household to retain heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 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 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water, and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the home. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by the Healthy Homes Standards in Breaker Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the ruling on tenancy services ruling can be significant for property managers and landlords. For professional assistance, get in touch today and book your rental property house assessment.