Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? Landlords must ensure that their Crofton Downs rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rental properties are required to be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks that needs to be done and offer an evaluation 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 $7,200 plus additional healthier homes connected fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are fully qualified for each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

As of 1st July 2021, when a new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be done within 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new or renewed Tenancy is signed for the Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed by the end of 90 days.

Failure to comply with one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the property they are living in. If the property manager fails to supply the information requested within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they may receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty as much as $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person who is liable to pay this fine is the one who is named on the lease contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be current at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords with several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious violations. Those who have more than six properties could be fined as high as $50,000 and as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

If you fail to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, with huge fines, in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households in New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be colder, older and are not as efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower quality than the homes of owners.

Damp, mouldy and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four major home quality issues often suffer from lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Enhancing the standard of Crofton Downs rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruptions to their work, education and daily life because of health issues. Your investment will also be better safeguarded from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, and Draught stopping in Crofton Downs rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Crofton Downs Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A humid home is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes, it requirements to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or an unobstructed draught coming from a crack or a gap, then it is likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that let air in or out from the house require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed whenever imaginable.

You don’t need to block gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be necessary to allow for the movement of the structure when the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will examine all doors and windows as part of the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Crofton Downs

Crofton Downs rental properties require a reliable source of heat that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the most coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental wellbeing.

The source of heat requirements that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable) with at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater or heat pump, it must be equipped with a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating systems such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments an electric, fixed heater might be enough.

If your living space already has a central heating source, like heat pumps, it could need a top up to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to achieve the quality because they’re costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Every living space in a rental house must have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms need to have an externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

A ventilation standard is all about recognising how dried air can be much easier to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living rooms kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t living spaces and therefore do not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or the skylight requirements at least of opening to the outside, and stay closed, allowing the circulation of fresh air and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, and any other room in your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high water-generating appliance will require adequate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan for areas that are high in moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is an ideal home

Insulation Crofton Downs

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is mandatory for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to make sure that the insulation is up to this new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the sub floor space may need to be replaced or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and will also make an easier task for the household to retain the heat.

Insulation requirements to meet the R-values required for your area

The "R" refers to thermal resistance, and it is a measurement of how well insulation can withstand heat flow. The more high the R-value, better the insulation.

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

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

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about what’s inside the building but you must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain or ground water and prevent it from getting inside. When it is about damp and water, it is usually not apparent that it can become a big problem and end up causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Properties that are rented must have effective drainage to eliminate rainwater, storm water and ground water, including the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a proper place to go and that it can’t linger underneath the structures is an crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

Ground moisture barriers are usually made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

Learn more about The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage standard.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Crofton Downs

Areas of rental properties that are impacted by The Healthy Homes Standards in Crofton Downs include each:

• Living Room
• Bedrooms
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in the home review to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standard. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Is the heater equipped with enough capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having an Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the Tenancy services ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house assessment.