Healthy Homes Assessment Breaker Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Breaker Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a 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 can assess your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about any tasks required. needs to be done, and provide the report with all the details required to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes connected fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely qualified to assess 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, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished by the end of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Breaker Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they could be issued an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s an additional fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is identified on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property and it could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is signed. It is updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any associated work has been completed.

It’s important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may receive additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in huge fines, in addition to still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property, contact us today and arrange to have an home evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Breaker Bay, and research has shown that these rental houses are likely to be colder, older, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who have reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Breaker Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to illness. Your investment will also be better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Breaker Bay rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Breaker Bay

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in houses. A damp home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

If a draught can 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 an unobstructed draught coming from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s likely a crack or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out within the home need to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

There is no need to block off gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow movement of the building when the house is heated and cools to allow them to be opened and closed rather than sticking. We will examine all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for well-being homes

Heating Breaker Bay

Rental properties in Breaker Bay require a reliable source of heating which can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the current fixed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top-up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating or heat pump it must include an thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details on the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Breaker Bay

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

The ventilation quality is about recognising it is that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Each window, door , or Skylight needs at least of opening to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your property with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Breaker Bay

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and it will make an easier task to allow the home to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 below floor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Breaker Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from water damage isn’t only about what’s inside the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere for rain, surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is usually not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble that can cause damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent the ingress of moisture, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between the floor and surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, in order to block any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the building. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Breaker Bay

Property rental areas that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Breaker Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Breaker Bay for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine when conducting a home assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? the draught is stopped?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having a Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of an tenant services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.