Healthy Homes Assessment Clouston Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. needs to be done and provide the report with all the details required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthy homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be completed by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new or renewed lease is entered into on the Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the expected timeframe can result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy agreement, it could result in 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 property manager is unable to provide the necessary information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for property owners or property managers that provide false or misleading 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 the one who is letting the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Compliance Statement needs to be current before the tenancy agreement can be signed. It should be maintained during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face more severe penalties for not complying. 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 high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, and result in large fines in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property call us now and request an house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

One in three households rent the property in New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. In addition, people who experience at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

Improving the standard of Clouston Park rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illness. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught Stopping on Clouston Park rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss the Clouston Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts can lead to lower temperatures in homes. A cold home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draft can be perceived as a result of gaps or holes, it needs to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from your home require to be sealed. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are accountable for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement within the structure when the house heats and cools, to allow them to be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check all windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being houses

Heating Clouston Park

Rental properties in Clouston Park must have a fixed source of heating that can heat the main or largest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the most 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 heating source needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) and at least 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and it must have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool could be used to check if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is an electric heater or heat pump it requirements to have a thermostat. This will help make the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source, such as an air conditioner, it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Every living space of a rental house must include at least one open door or window to offer natural airflow. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to remove moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dry air is less difficult to heat and that the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

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

Each door, window or the skylight requirements to have the ability to open up to the outside while remaining set in an opening position to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and every other room of your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans which are vented out to the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A dry and warm home is an ideal house

Insulation Clouston Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required on all rental houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is in line with standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to allow the house to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet 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 greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest 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

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s usually what you don’t see that could be a huge problem that can cause the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with effective drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the home. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Clouston Park

Property rental areas that are affected with The Healthy Homes Standards in Clouston Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedrooms
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground moisture barrier present?
• 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 the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have enough air circulation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For professional guidance, contact us now and schedule your rental property home evaluation.