Healthy Homes Assessment Brown Owl

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure their Brown Owl 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 must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as completely qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed lease is entered into on the Brown Owl rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the lease agreement as the one who is who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to note that a landlord who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties can be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

Check out the complete details of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Brown Owl, and research has shown that these rental houses tend to be colder, older, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses like colds, influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Additionally, those who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improve the standard of Brown Owl rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living due to diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means less costs of maintenance in the long-term.

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 Brown Owl rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Brown Owl Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Brown Owl

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A damp house costs more to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s likely a crack or hole that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air into or out within your home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to cover up holes or gaps which are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for movement within the building when the house warms and cools in order to let them be closed and opened instead of than sticking. We will inspect the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Brown Owl

Brown Owl rental properties must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to a minimum of 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest winter 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 source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e. not portable) and at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is an electric heater or heat source, it should have the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, 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 your main living space already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might require a top up to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Brown Owl

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one opening window or exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be much easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other area in your house that houses a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans that vent to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Brown Owl

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure the insulation meets current quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to allow the household to keep heat.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation is able to resist 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 area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Find out all the details about the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Brown Owl Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building; you have 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 often what you don’t see that can become a big problem and cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have effective drainage to eliminate storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid water ingress, if the property has an enclosed space between your flooring and the ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor 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 Brown Owl

The areas of rental property that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Brown Owl include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Brown Owl for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over when conducting an home assessment to see if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground water barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental property home assessment.