Healthy Homes Assessment Eastbourne

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you be aware that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st July 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure their Eastbourne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a renewal or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st 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 determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of any work required. needs to be done, and provide the report with all the information required for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to comply with the requirements under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7200 plus any additional healthy homes associated fines.

We are completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely certified to assess each of 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 contract is signed on an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks must be completed inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, if a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to meet one of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the anticipated timeframe could result in penalties of up to $7200. In addition, if the currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within the new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Any tenant may request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they reside in. If the property manager fails to provide the required information within 21 days from having received the inquiry, they may be issued an infringement notice and be fined as high as $750.

Additionally, there is an additional fine of approximately $900 for landlords or property managers that provide false or incorrect Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or information. The person liable for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as being 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 Compliance Statement requirements to be accurate at the time that the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be maintained throughout the duration of the tenancy when any necessary work related to it is finished.

It is important to be aware that landlords who have multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to comply with the Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in huge fines, in addition to having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households homes in New Zealand and Eastbourne, and research has shown that these rental houses are most likely to be colder, older and are not as effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for diseases like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Additionally, those who have reported at least four major housing quality problems frequently have lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in well-being.

Improving the quality of Eastbourne rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also better secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, which means lower maintenance costs in the long run.

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

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts increase the likelihood of dropping temperatures within households. A humid home costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or the sound of a clear draught emanating from a crack or a gap, then it’s likely to be a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks or gaps with large gaps must be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and allow air to enter or exit from your house require sealing. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t being used, it may cause draughts and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as far as imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes which are part of the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows may be required to allow for movement within the structure when the household is heated and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Check out the complete details to the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

A good heating system is important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Eastbourne

Rental properties in Eastbourne need to have a stable source of heat that can heat the principal or the biggest living area to at minimum 18degC, even during the coldest days of the year. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable) that is, at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity, and it must have the minimum capacity for heating required in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if your current installed heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be safe heating options in The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat pump, it requirements to include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. In some instances, such as small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source like an air conditioner, it could need some additional energy in order to comply with the standards. Some types of heaters can’t be utilised to meet the standard because they’re costly, not affordable to run, and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information on details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Eastbourne

Each liveable space in a rental property must have at least one openable doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. In addition, humid areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an externally vented extractor to take moisture away.

This ventilation standard is all about acknowledging the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and heat, and a well ventilated rental property is less likely to develop damp and mould.

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

Each window, door or skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens as well as any other space in your home that has shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient air circulation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in high moisture areas.

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

A warm dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Eastbourne

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings has been compulsory in all rental houses as of July 1st, 2019. Property managers and landlords are required to ensure that the insulation meets this new standard. In some instances, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space may need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home will reduce the risk of condensation and reduce the chances of mould and dampness, and also makes much easier for the household to keep the heat.

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

The "R" signifies thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well insulation withstands heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9, underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – all 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 (underfloor R 1.3

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Keeping your rental property safe from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the inside of the building; you have to make sure there is somewhere for rain, surface and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it is about damp and water, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can cause a lot of trouble, causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties require to be equipped with effective drainage to eliminate floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental has an enclosed gap between your floor and soil, a ground-water barrier must be put in place when it’s reasonably practicable to install it.

The ground-moisture barrier generally made of polythene and is laid on top of the ground to prevent any moisture present in the ground from entering the property. It also helps to prevent water damage to the floor insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

Property rental areas that are affected to The Healthy Homes Standards in Eastbourne include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are many things you should look for in a house review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Does the subfloor space well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require to be topped up or replaced?
• Do you think the heating system has enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the house have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The consequences of not having a Healthy home that is in compliance with lawful 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 assistance, get in touch today to book your rental property home assessment.