Healthy Homes Assessment Clouston Park

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords must make sure 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 compliant by 1 July 2024.

The areas that are covered by the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be completed and offer a report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes associated fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental properties, and are completely certified to evaluate 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there could be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the landlord or the property manager doesn’t supply the necessary information within 21 days of being informed of the request, they can receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is leasing the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement requirements to be current when the tenancy contract is completed, and must be updated during the entire tenancy, as related work is completed.

It’s important to note that a landlord with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 for hearing claims.

It is clear that failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have a home inspection performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

One in three households from New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research indicates that rental homes are most likely to be older, colder, are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

The damp, cold and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who experience four or more key issues with their housing often have poor life satisfaction and lower mental wellbeing.

Improving the quality of Clouston Park rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved mental and physical health and minimise the interruption to learning, work and living due to diseases. Your investment is also better protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

Begin now by calling about receiving a Clouston Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts can lead to less temperature in homes. A humid home will cost more to heat, which results in wasting money and energy.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught out of a hole or gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be fixed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out of the house need sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure such draughts are eliminated in the maximum extent possible.

There is no require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the house warms and cools so that they are able to be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors during your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial to ensure well-being houses

Heating Clouston Park

Rental properties in Clouston Park require a reliable heating source that can heat the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest winter days. 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 requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable) and at minimum 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and meet the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the permanent heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to "top up" with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater or heat source, it needs to include an thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are required. In certain situations, like small apartment buildings the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, like heat pumps, it could require an upgrade to be able to meet the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be used to achieve the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, or are unsafe to operate.

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

Ventilation Clouston Park

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor fan that can take moisture away.

The ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air will be much easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated will be less prone to developing mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight needs to be able of opening to the outside while remaining closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower cooker or any other moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that can be vented out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

See the full details of this Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A cozy dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Clouston Park

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is mandatory in all rental homes since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure the insulation meets this new standard. In some cases, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness and it will make an easier task to allow the home to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 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 all of the 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

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of what’s inside the building it is also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface or ground water, and stop it from coming into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s often those concerns that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem, causing the property to suffer and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water. This includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water is able to go and that it doesn’t get sucked into buildings is an essential part of keeping your property dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture from entering, if your property has an enclosed space between floorboards and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from getting into the property. It also helps to prevent any damage to your underfloor 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

Rental property areas affected through the Healthy Homes Standard in Clouston Park include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are many things to check when conducting a house assessment to see if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Are the floor spaces protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the 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 property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property home assessment.