Healthy Homes Assessment Camborne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must make sure that their Camborne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully certified 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 requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties, as well as completely qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Camborne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks have to be done inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Camborne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in the renewal, new or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person who is letting the property and it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and even as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have an house assessment performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Camborne, and research shows us that these rental homes are likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating and have lower quality than owner occupied properties.

Cold, damp and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who report at least four key issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

Improving the quality of Camborne rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and living because of health issues. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught-stopping in Camborne rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Camborne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Camborne

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see the air is clear from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is likely to be a gap or an opening that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to cover up gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house gets warmer and cooler, in order to let them be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check every window and door as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Camborne

Rental properties in Camborne require a reliable source of heating that can heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested 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) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you offer is electric heating or heat pump, it must have an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like an air conditioner, it might just require an upgrade to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Check out the complete details regarding the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Camborne

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one opening doors or windows to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore are not need an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining at an open angle to allow for fresh air circulation and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your house that houses shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Camborne

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental houses from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure the insulation meets this new quality. In some cases, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and also makes much easier to allow the household to keep warmth.

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

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• 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, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Camborne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is typically the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate 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 can’t linger underneath the structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between the floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, in order to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your 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 Camborne

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Camborne include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Camborne for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during the home inspection to determine whether your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of the tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property managers and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.