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? Landlords are now required to ensure 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 conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas that are covered by 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 standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any tasks that needs to be done and provide an evaluation report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors for rental properties, we are fully certified to evaluate both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be finished inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for a Cannons Creek rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet any of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they live in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers that provide false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is whoever is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the name of the landlord or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct at the time that the tenancy agreement is executed, and it is updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for serious violations, and landlords who own more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t take a chance with your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct an home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Cannons Creek, and research has shown that these rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are linked to negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who report four or more key housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Cannons Creek rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long-term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, and Draught stopping on Cannons Creek rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Cannons Creek Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Cannons Creek

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within households. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which results in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s most likely a gap or hole that requirements sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the home require the sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they can still be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will examine all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is important for healthy homes

Heating Cannons Creek

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

The source of heating needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fix heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll need to "top up" with a new heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should be equipped with a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it may require an update to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient and/or unsafe to run.

Check out the complete details to details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Cannons Creek

Each living space within a rental property must have at least one opening window or exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dry air is easier to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

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

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position to open up to the outside, but remain at an open angle in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Cannons Creek

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation is up to this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be topped up 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 more easy for the house to keep the heat.

Insulation requirements to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" signifies thermal resistance, and is a gauge of how well the insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – all of the North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Cannons Creek 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 to allow surface, rain or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s frequently those things that you aren’t aware of that can become a big problem, causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the building. It also helps in preventing 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 Cannons Creek

Rental property areas affected by Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Cannons Creek include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Cannons Creek for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of things to look over during the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Does the subfloor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call today to schedule your rental property house evaluation.