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 make sure their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess the rental property you have in order 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 about the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be completed and offer an evaluation report with all the necessary information to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re fully certified 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, if a new or renewed contract is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be done within 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request details about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the landlord or property manager is unable to supply the information requested within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notification and be fined as high as $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who have provided a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed. It must be updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are handed down only for serious violations. Those who have at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t risk your rental property Contact us now and arrange to have a home assessment done on your rental property.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households the property in New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research has shown that these rental homes are more likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating and tend to be lower quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, especially for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the quality of Clouston Park rental property can help tenants enjoy better mental and physical health, and lessen the disruptions to their work, education and daily life due to health issues. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Clouston Park rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts are a major cause of less temperature in homes. A cold house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or the air is clear from a crack or a gap, then it is probably a gap or hole which requirements sealing in any way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of the house require to be sealed. For instance, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated as far as imaginable.

You don’t require to block gaps or holes in the construction. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be required to allow for movement of the structure as the house heats and cools, to allow them to be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will inspect the windows and doors as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for healthy homes

Heating Clouston Park

Rental properties in Clouston Park should have a permanent source of heating that can heat the principal or the biggest living room to at least 18 degrees Celsius, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum temperature indoors suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options for the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is electric heating or heat pump it must have the thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your main living space is already equipped with a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it might require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

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

Ventilation Clouston Park

Every living space in a rental property must have at least one openable door or window to offer natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to remove moisture.

This ventilation standard is all about understanding how dried air can be more easy to heat and a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens and dining rooms are all considered living spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements to be able to open to the outside, but remain fixed in an open position in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that vent to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Clouston Park

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords must make sure that the insulation meets standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space might need to be filled with or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making more easy for the home to hold warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values of your area.

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

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

Check out the complete details of this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and to prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it’s usually the things you don’t notice that could become a major issue, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must be equipped with efficient drainage to remove the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go, and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is a vital aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture ingress, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to stop any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Clouston Park

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Clouston Park include each:

• Living Rooms
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathrooms
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns you should look for during an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of a Tenancy services ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today and book your rental properties house evaluation.