Healthy Homes Assessment Eastbourne

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? Landlords must ensure their Eastbourne rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rental properties are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We will evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager of the tasks needed to be completed. requirements to be done, and offer an evaluation report with all the details required for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements to comply with the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not complying may be liable for up to $7,200 plus additional healthier homes related fines.

We are fully independent assessors of rental property, as well as fully qualified to assess both 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, renewed or varied tenancy is signed for an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items need to be done inside of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, if a new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Eastbourne rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed within 90 days.

Failure to adhere to one of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they reside in. If the property manager does not supply the necessary information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notice and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is an additional fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as being the person leasing the property out It could also be the name of the landlord or the company that manages the property.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be completed, and is updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s also important to remember that landlords who manage several rental properties can face even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own at least six rental properties could be fined up to $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet and result in huge fines, in addition to still having to meet compliance. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an home evaluation performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes matter

What is the reason Healthy Homes Compliance important?

About 1 in 3 households from New Zealand and Eastbourne, and research indicates that rental houses are most likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and have lower standard than those owned by owners.

Cold, damp and mouldy homes are linked to negative health outcomes, especially for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and heart diseases. In addition, people who have reported four or more key house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental health.

The improvement in the quality of Eastbourne rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health and minimise the disturbance to learning, work and living because of illness. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp , which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping in Eastbourne rental properties.

Contact us now to discuss getting a Eastbourne Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Eastbourne

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A humid home will cost more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draught is noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes the area needs to be sealed.

What are unreasonable gaps and holes?

If you are able to feel external air entering or a clear draught from a hole or gap that is, it’s likely a crack or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of your home need seals. For example, if an open fireplace isn’t in use it could cause draughts, and must be sealed off. Property managers and landlords are responsible for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t need to block up intentional holes or gaps that are part of the construction. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors might be necessary to allow movement of the structure when the household warms and cools so that they can still be closed and opened rather than sticking. We will test every window and door during our Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes draught stopping requirements.

Proper heating is crucial to ensure healthy houses

Heating Eastbourne

Eastbourne rental properties should have a permanent source of heat that can warm the living area to at minimum 18degC, even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The heating source needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e. not portable), at least 1.5 kW in heating capacity, and it must have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to check if the existing installed heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to ‘top up’ with an additional heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in those following the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it needs to include a thermostat. This will help make the heating more uniform and effective. In most homes, larger heaters that are fixed, such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are required. However, in certain instances like small apartments small apartments, a smaller electric fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a central heating source such as a heat pump, then it might need an update to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to meet the standard since they’re either expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

Get the complete information regarding the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Eastbourne

Each liveable space in the rental property should have at least one openable door or window to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an venting fan outside to get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is about recognising that the dry atmosphere is easier to heat and that an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens and dining rooms are considered liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable and therefore don’t require an opening door or window.

Each window, door , or the skylight requirements to be able to open up to the outside and remain fixed in an open position in order to allow the circulation of fresh air and air flow.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your home with a bath, shower and cooktop or another humidity-generating items will require proper extractor fan systems that can be vented towards the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough air circulation in every living space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Eastbourne

Insulation for underfloor and ceilings is a requirement for all rent homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords have to make sure that the insulation is in line with this new standard. In some instances, current ceiling insulation, or the insulation of the subfloor space might require to be replaced or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lower the chance of mould and dampness, and it will make more easy for the house to hold heat.

Insulation needs to be in compliance with the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

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

• Zone 1 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 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 3 - North Island Taupo, Central Plateau and the entire South Island – ceiling R 3.3 (underfloor R 1.3

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

Eastbourne Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to make sure there is somewhere for surface and underground water to flow and to prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damage to your investment and affecting your tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath structures is a crucial aspect of keeping your property dry.

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

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

Find out all the details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Eastbourne

Areas of rental properties that are impacted through Health Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standards in Eastbourne include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Eastbourne for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to look over in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the space under the floor well-insulated? Is there a ground moisture barrier present?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require replacement or topping?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The consequences of not having the Healthy home in relation to the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenant solutions ruling can be significant for property owners and landlords. For expert assistance, get in touch today to schedule your rental properties house assessment.