Healthy Homes Assessment Crofton Downs

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? The landlords are now required to ensure that their Crofton Downs rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to 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 assess your rental property to check if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager about any tasks which requirements to be completed and offer an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not in compliance could face fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes relevant fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully certified to evaluate each of Healthy Homes and Homefit.

Call Now (04) 280 6779

Rental Property Healthy Homes Fines

Fines for Failing to Comply

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items have to be taken care of within 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, once a new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on the Crofton Downs rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to comply with any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement it could result in additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they are living in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the required information within 21 days of having received the inquiry, they will be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who offer a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy contract as the person leasing the property out which could be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

The information contained in the Compliance Statement needs to be accurate when the tenancy contract is signed, and ideally it is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It is crucial to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties could face additional fines for non-compliance. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, and result in large fines in addition to still having to meet compliance. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and request an house evaluation performed on the rental property you are renting.

See the full details for details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households in New Zealand and Crofton Downs, and research suggests that rental homes are more likely to be colder, older, have less effective heating, and generally are of lower quality than the homes of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly ailments like colds and asthma, as well as cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who reported four or more key house quality problems often experience low life satisfaction and reduced psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Crofton Downs rental property will allow tenants to enjoy improved physical and mental health and reduce the disruptions to their work, education and living because of illnesses. Your investment will be protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which results in less costs of maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a listing of minimum and specific standards for heating, insulation, Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught-stopping within Crofton Downs rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Crofton Downs Healthy Home assessment on your rental property right now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Crofton Downs

Draughts are a major cause of dropping temperatures within homes. A cold home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and increased bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air flowing in or the air is clear from a gap or hole and you are able to feel it, it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be sealed permanently. Gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out from your home require seals. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t in use it can create draughts. This should be blocked off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for making sure that such draughts are squelched as far as possible.

You don’t require to block off gaps or holes that are part of the building. For example, tiny gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, to allow them to be opened and closed rather than being stuck. We will check every window and door as part of our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

A good heating system is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Crofton Downs

Rental properties in Crofton Downs must have a fixed heating source that is able to heat the 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 health as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to remain fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and must meet the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the fixed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to "top-up" with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you offer is an electric heater or heat pump it should have a thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater could be enough.

If the main living room already has a permanent heating source like an air conditioner, it may require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be used to achieve the standard as they are either costly, not cost-effective to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Find the complete specifications to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Crofton Downs

Every living space of a rental home must contain at minimum one open window or exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to get rid of moisture.

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

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus don’t need an opening door or window.

Each window, door or skylight requirements for them to be in a position to open to the outside while remaining at an open angle in order to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other area in your home with shower, bath or cooktop, or any other humidity-generating items will need suitable extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in high moisture areas.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A comfortable, dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Crofton Downs

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement to all rental homes as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to make sure that the insulation meets this new quality. In certain situations, the current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space may require to be topped up or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness as well as making much easier to allow the home to retain the heat.

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

The "R" refers to thermal resistance and is a measure of how well insulation resists heat flow. The greater the R-value, the better the insulation.

• 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 underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and all of the South Island – ceiling R 3.3 and underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Crofton Downs Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface, rain and ground water to go and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water is able to go, and it can’t linger underneath the buildings is a vital aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside a drainage system to avoid moisture from entering, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the ground, a ground water barrier must be put in place when it is reasonably practicable to do so.

A ground moisture barrier is generally a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from getting into the structure. It also assists in preventing moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Crofton Downs

Property rental areas that are affected by Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Crofton Downs include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Crofton Downs for Rental Properties

There are a variety of things to be able to examine when conducting the home review to determine if your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier present?
• Does the ceiling insulation need replenishment or replacement?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home with regard to regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the tenant services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert guidance, contact us today to schedule your rental properties home evaluation.