Healthy Homes Assessment Cannons Creek

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 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 the start of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 evaluate your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work required. requirements to be completed, and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties and are fully certified for 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Cannons Creek 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 expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager fails to provide the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Furthermore, there’s also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy agreement is signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket resulting in massive fines as well as continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

One in three households the property in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be colder, older and have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than the houses of owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. In addition, people who reported four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Enhancing the quality of Cannons Creek rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illness. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less 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 Stopping on Cannons Creek rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Cannons Creek Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty house is more expensive to heat, resulting in wasted money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or hole that needs sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your house need sealing. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as imaginable.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building as the house warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will examine the windows and doors in an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is important to ensure healthy houses

Heating Cannons Creek

Cannons Creek rental properties need to have a stable heating source that can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the current permanent heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. In some instances, such as small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as a heat pump, then it may need some additional energy 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 inefficient, unaffordable to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications on details on Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan that can eliminate moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding it is that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and heat, and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs to have the ability to open up to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position, allowing the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require suitable extractor fans that are vented out to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Cannons Creek

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space may need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make it easier to allow the home to hold the 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 the insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 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

See the full details of the 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 inside of the building it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for surface or ground water, and also stop it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently not apparent that it could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must be equipped with effective drainage for the removal of rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to an irrigation system to stop water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between your floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

The ground-moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Cannons Creek

Rental property areas affected to The 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 many concerns to check during an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert advice, call today and book your rental property home assessment.