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 effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords now have to make sure their Cannons Creek rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 evaluate your rental property to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work that requirements to be completed, and offer the report with 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 landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, as well as fully qualified to assess 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 or renewed contract is signed on a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be done by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the property manager does not provide the information requested within 21 days of being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is leasing the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Compliance Statement requirements to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be kept updated throughout the tenancy as any associated work has been completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious violations. Those who have six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to comply with your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in significant fines and still being required to adhere to the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property call us now and arrange to have an home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be of poorer quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative health outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the standard of Cannons Creek rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and daily life due to illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance 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 as Draught Control in Cannons Creek rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it is likely a crack or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home need to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as far as imaginable.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will test all windows and doors as part of an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information of the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Cannons Creek

Cannons Creek rental properties require a reliable heating source that can warm the living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental wellbeing.

The source of heating requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options under those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must include the thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most homes, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are necessary. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If the living area is already equipped with a fixed heating source such as the heat pump, it might just need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Every living space in a rental property has to contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation quality is about recognising how dry air is much easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to develop damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallways are not liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each door, window or Skylight needs for them to be in a position of opening to the outside while remaining closed, allowing ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will require adequate extractor fans that can be vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Cannons Creek

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to ensure that the insulation is in line with this new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, and it will make it easier to allow the home to keep heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and is a gauge 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 – all area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 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 moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should be equipped with efficient drainage to remove storm water, surface water and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that water is able to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

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

Ground moisture barriers are typically an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Cannons Creek

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

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the home inspection to determine whether your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught stopping?
• Does the house have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.