Healthy Homes Assessment Clouston Park

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 Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewed or new tenancy and all private rentals must be fully 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 evaluate your rental property to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

Our company is fully independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied contract is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be finished within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the anticipated timeframe could result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within the renewal, new or revised tenancy contract, there could be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Anyone can request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant can be issued an infringement notice and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a fine of as much as $900 for landlords and property managers who provide a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is named on the lease agreement as the one who is letting the property out It could also be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s important to remember that a landlord who manage multiple rental properties may face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for severe violations. Those who have six or more properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and make arrangements to have a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research suggests that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, are not as effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the houses of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses like colds, flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who experience four or more major housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Clouston Park rental property will help tenants experience improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means less maintenance costs in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught-stopping in Clouston Park rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about receiving a Clouston Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts may lead to low temperatures inside houses. A humid home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is felt through gaps that are too large or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the air is clear from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and should be sealed off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

There is no need to block off holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow for movement of the structure when the home warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine all windows and doors in our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial for well-being houses

Heating Clouston Park

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

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity for the main living room. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to top up with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to be equipped with an thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and efficient. For most houses, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are necessary. However, in some cases like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it may need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unhealthy to run.

Get the complete information for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Each liveable space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is less difficult to heat, and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, and kitchens are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside while remaining closed to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath and cooktop or another moisture-producing item will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Clouston Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation meets the new quality. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be added or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation, and decrease the risk of mould and damp, and also makes it easier to the home to retain the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values 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 R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest area of North Island except Taupo and the Central Plateau – ceiling R 2.9 and floor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow, and also stop it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s typically the concerns you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, which includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water is able to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent water ingress, if the rental is enclosed between the floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to stop any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also assists in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of this Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Clouston Park

The areas of rental property that are affected by the Healthy Homes Standard in Clouston Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns to check in the house assessment to see if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. Some examples include:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an Tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.