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? The landlords are now required to make sure their Clouston Park rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties must be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be completed and provide an evaluation report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

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

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully certified to evaluate 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 tenancy is signed on a Clouston Park rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 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 completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the the property manager doesn’t provide the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person who is letting the property which could be the name of the landlord as well as the property management company.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It’s also crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are handed down for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account with huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct an home inspection performed for your rental property.

Find the full information on details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Clouston Park, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be colder, older and have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are associated with negative well-being results, specifically for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who experience four or more key home quality issues often suffer from poor life satisfaction and lower well-being.

Enhancing the standard of Clouston Park rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health and reduce the interruption to learning, work and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long-term.

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

Start now and call about getting a Clouston Park Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Clouston Park

Draughts may lead to dropping temperatures within homes. A draughty house costs more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting money and energy.

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

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap and you can feel it, it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit of the home need the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Landlords and property managers are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block gaps or holes in the building. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for movement of the building as the home gets warmer and cooler, so that they can still be closed and opened instead of than securing. We will examine the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important for well-being homes

Heating Clouston Park

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

The heating source requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t 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 requirements to be equipped with the thermostat. This will make the heating more uniform and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger heaters that are fixed, such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, like small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source like a heat pump, then it might require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the quality as they are either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Clouston Park

Each living space within a rental property must contain at minimum one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid spaces like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

The ventilation standard is all about recognising that the dry atmosphere is more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t considered living spaces and therefore are not need an opening window or door.

Every window, door or skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay closed to allow the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space that includes extractor fans that are suitable for areas that are high in moisture.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A cozy dry house is an ideal home

Insulation Clouston Park

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the sub floor space may need to be topped up or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of dampness and mould, as well as making much easier to the house to retain warmth.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" is a symbol for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the better the insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all area of 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Clouston Park Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can become a big problem, causing the property to suffer and harming the tenant’s health.

Rental properties require to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and ground water, including an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure the water has a place to go, and it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps in preventing from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Find out all the details of The 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 Standards in Clouston Park include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Clouston Park for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to look over in a house evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up enough capacity?
• Do you have enough drainage? draught stopping?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For specialist advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.