Healthy Homes Assessment Days Bay

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 now have to make sure that their Days Bay rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of the start of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be fully conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas 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 requirements. Following the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any tasks required. needs to be completed and offer a report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach 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 are completely independent assessors of rental property, in addition, we’re fully qualified to assess both Healthy Homes and Homefit.

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 on a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be taken care of inside of 90 days.

Beginning on July 1st, 2021, if a new or renewed contract is signed on the Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done inside of 90 days.

Failure to meet all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in an amount of $7200. Additionally, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy agreement, there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the necessary information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords or property managers who provide a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out and it could be the landlord’s name or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is completed, and should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It’s also important to note that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The most severe penalties are given for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearings.

If you fail to comply with requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, resulting in massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t put your rental at risk. property Call us today and ask us to conduct a house assessment done for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

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

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and flu, asthma and heart diseases. Additionally, those who report four or more major issues with their housing often have less satisfaction in their lives and lower well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Days Bay rental property will help tenants experience improved physical and mental health, and lessen the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means less costs of maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation and Ventilation and Drainage, as well as Draught Stopping within Days Bay rental properties.

Begin now by calling about getting a Days Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Days Bay

Draughts can lead to low temperatures inside houses. A draughty home will cost more to heat, which means wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

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

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s probably a gap or crack that needs sealing in some way. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air in or out into the home require to be sealed. For example, if an open fireplace is not in use, it could cause draughts, and should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure such draughts are eliminated whenever imaginable.

There is no need to block up intentional gaps or holes that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for the movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure healthy homes

Heating Days Bay

Rental properties in Days Bay must have a fixed source of heating that is able to heat the{ main or largest|| largest or main| principal or the biggest} living space to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heating requirements to remain fixed (i.e. not portable) that is, 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 could be used to determine if your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options for Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), then it must have the thermostat. This makes the heating more reliable 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 an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If the living area already has a central heating source, like the heat pump, it might require an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unhealthy to run.

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

Ventilation Days Bay

Each liveable space in a rental property has to include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan to take moisture away.

It is the ventilation quality is all about recognising it is that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and the property that is properly ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or the skylight needs at least open to the outside and remain set in an opening position to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other area in your home with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need adequate extractor fans which are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will ensure that there is sufficient ventilation in every living space, including suitable extractor fans in areas of high moisture.

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

A cozy dry home is a healthy home

Insulation Days Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement in all rental houses since July 1, 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space may need to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house will reduce the risk of condensation and lower the chance of mould and damp, as well as making more easy to allow the house to retain warmth.

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

The "R" signifies 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 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

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

Days Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting inside. When it concerns damp and moisture it is often the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment as well as harming the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to remove rainwater, storm water and ground water, which includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and ground, a ground water barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from rising into the structure. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Days Bay

Property rental areas that are affected with Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard in Days Bay include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Rooms
• Bathroom
• Kitchen
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Days Bay for Rental Properties

There are many things to look over when conducting an house inspection to determine whether your rental property meets the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Are the floor spaces covered in insulation and is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? need replacement or topping?
• Does the heat pump have sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy Home with regard to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of a ruling on tenancy solutions ruling can have a significant impact for property owners and landlords. For specialist advice, call now and schedule your rental property house assessment.