Healthy Homes Assessment Days Bay

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Days Bay 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 must be completely certified by 1 July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property and determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer the report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found to not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for as much as $7,200 and additional healthy homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties we are completely certified 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, once a new or renewed tenancy is signed on a Days Bay rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be completed inside of 90 days.

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

Inability to adhere to any of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in a fine of up to $7200. In addition, if the present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t incorporated in the new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant can ask for details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not provide the required information within 21 days of getting the notice, the tenant could receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for property owners or property managers who have provided a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or other information. The person liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy contract as the person letting the property out, so it could be the name of the landlord, or the company that manages the property.

All information in the Statement of Compliance needs to be up-to-date when the tenancy contract is signed. It should be kept updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to keep in mind that a landlord with multiple rental properties may face more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given only for serious breaches, and landlords with six or more properties can receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

If you fail to meet the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet hard, with significant fines and still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and arrange to have an house evaluation performed on your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households rent from New Zealand and Days Bay, and research suggests that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be lower quality than homes that are owned by the owner.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. Furthermore, people who experience at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improving the standard of Days Bay rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and reduce the disruption to work, learning and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment is also protected from mildew, mould and damp damage, meaning lower costs for 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, and Draught-stopping on Days Bay rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Days Bay Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Days Bay

Draughts can lead to dropping temperatures within households. A draughty house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you can feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a gap or hole and you can feel it, it’s most likely a gap or crack that needs sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be sealed permanently. The gaps that exceed 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from the home need the sealing. In the case of an open fireplace isn’t used it can create draughts. This should be shut from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that such draughts are squelched in the maximum extent imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps which are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors could be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household gets warmer and cooler, so that they are able to be closed and opened rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect the windows and doors during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important for healthy homes

Heating Days Bay

Days Bay rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that can warm the largest or main living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum temperature indoors that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health as well as their mental health.

The heating source needs for it to be permanent (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity to heat the living space in general. A Heating Assessment Tool can be used to check if the fixed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like small portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be suitable heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater (or heat pump), it must have a thermostat. This will make the heating more consistent and effective. For most properties, larger fixed heating devices such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. In certain situations, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater might be enough.

If the living area already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might require an update in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the quality as they are either not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information for the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Days Bay

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one opening windows or an exterior door to provide natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can remove moisture.

A ventilation standard is about recognising the fact that dry air is easier to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway aren’t liveable , and thus do not require an opening window or door.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside and remain fixed in an open position, allowing to circulate fresh air as well as ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and every other room of your home with shower, bath, cooktop or other high moisture-producing item will need appropriate extractor fans that vent to the outdoors. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

See the full details of the Healthy Homes ventilation quality.

A warm dry house is an ideal house

Insulation Days Bay

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is a requirement on all rental homes from 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers must ensure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the sub floor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A house that is well-insulated can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness as well as making it easier to allow the house to keep warmth.

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

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation resists heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more effective the insulation.

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder of the 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 the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3, underfloor R 1.3

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Days Bay Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from moisture isn’t just about the interior of the building but you must make sure there is somewhere for surface and ground water to go, and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it’s frequently the things you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have efficient drainage to eliminate the stormwater and surface waters and ground water. This includes an appropriate runoff or outfall. Making sure that the water has a proper place to go and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is a crucial aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside an irrigation system to stop the ingress of moisture, if your property has an enclosed space between the floor and ground, a ground moisture barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

A ground moisture barrier is typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground to prevent any moisture in the ground from accumulating into the structure. It also assists in preventing any damage to your underfloor insulation.

See the full details of 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 to The Healthy Homes Standard in Days Bay include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Days Bay for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to be able to examine during an house evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. The most common are:

• Is the sub floor space insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need to be topped up or replaced?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home that is in compliance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of the Tenancy solutions ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house assessment.