Healthy Homes Assessment Cannons Creek

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Cannons Creek rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property to check whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work which needs to be done, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we 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

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed contract is signed on the Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant may receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s an additional fine of as much as $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any related work is completed.

It’s important to be aware that a landlord who own multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could be penalised up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with massive fines as well as still being required to adhere to the regulations. Do not risk your rental property call us now and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

One in three households rent homes in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally have lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are linked to negative well-being outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Cannons Creek rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of diseases. Your investment will be secured from mildew, mould and damp , which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control for Cannons Creek rental properties.

Start now and call about receiving a Cannons Creek Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in houses. A draughty home is more expensive to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught could be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see the sound of a clear draught emanating out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in any way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be permanently stopped. The gaps that exceed 3mm that let air in or out into your home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t need to block off holes or gaps that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement of the structure when the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Cannons Creek

Rental properties in Cannons Creek need to have a stable heating source that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18 degrees Celsius, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the existing permanent heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating (or heat pump), it must have an thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. For most properties, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your main living space already has a fixed heating source such as heat pumps, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, or unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Every living space of a rental property has to include at least one open windows or an exterior door to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

This ventilation quality is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air will be more easy to heat and heat, and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation throughout the living spaces that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas of high moisture.

Check out the complete details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Cannons Creek

Underfloor and ceiling insulation has been compulsory on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is up to the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated property will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier to allow the household to retain heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values of your area.

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

• Zone 1 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 Zone 3 North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

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

Cannons Creek Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it’s often what you don’t see that can cause a lot of trouble and cause damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. 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 Cannons Creek

Rental property areas affected with Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Cannons Creek include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to be able to examine in the house inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental properties house assessment.