Healthy Homes Assessment Ebdentown

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you have any idea that the Healthy Homes Standards came into effective on July 1st, 2021? Landlords now have to ensure their Ebdentown rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals must be fully compliant by 1 July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate the rental property you have in order to determine if it meets the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. Following the assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the work needed to be completed. requirements to be completed, and provide an assessment report that includes all the necessary information for your tenancy contract’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Inability to meet the standards under the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord found not following the rules could be subject to fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes associated fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties in addition, we’re completely certified to assess both 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 contract is signed on an Ebdentown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new, renewed or varied Tenancy is signed for an Ebdentown rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be completed inside of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards inside of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not included in an updated, renewed, or amended tenancy agreement there may be an additional fine or violation fee.

Every tenant is entitled to request information about 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 of getting the notice, the tenant can receive an infringement notification and be fined upto $750.

Additionally, there is also a fine of up to $900 for landlords and property managers who have provided a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or any other information. The person who is responsible for this fine is the one who is identified on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property and 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 executed, and it must be updated through the tenancy period as necessary work related to it’s finished.

It is also important to remember that landlords who own multiple rental properties may receive more severe penalties for not complying. The harshest penalties are given for the most serious violations, and landlords who own six or more properties can be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

In the end, a failure to adhere to compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account hard, resulting in large fines in addition to continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment done on the rental property you are renting.

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

Healthy homes are important

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance So Important?

About 1 in 3 households rent homes in New Zealand and Ebdentown, and research indicates that rental houses tend to be older, colder, have less effective heating and tend to be of poorer quality than houses that are owned by the owner.

Damp, mouldy and cold houses can have negative health outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, people who reported at least four key housing quality problems frequently have poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

Improve the quality of Ebdentown rental property can allow tenants to experience better physical and mental health and minimise the disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment will be protected from mould, mildew and damp damage, meaning lower costs for maintenance over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a set of specific and minimal requirements for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture Ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Stopping for Ebdentown rental properties.

Begin now by calling about receiving a Ebdentown Healthy Home assessment on your rental property now.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Ebdentown

Draughts increase the likelihood of less temperature in houses. A damp house will cost more to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draught can be felt from unreasonable gaps or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air coming in or a clear draught from a gap or hole, then it’s most likely a gap or crack that requirements sealing in the way you can. Cracks and gaps that are large should be sealed permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air into or out of your home require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it may cause draughts and must be sealed from. Landlords and property managers are accountable for ensuring that these draughts are stopped as much as imaginable.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps that 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 can still be opened and closed rather than securing. We will check all windows and doors during an Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Proper heating is crucial for healthy homes

Heating Ebdentown

Ebdentown rental properties should have a permanent source of heating which can warm the principal or the biggest living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental well-being.

The source of heat needs that it be permanently fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity and have the minimum capacity for heating required for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether your current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will need to ‘top up’ by adding a second heater. Fires that are open and unflued heaters like the portable LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be safe heating options under Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you offer is an electric heater or heat pump then it must include the thermostat. This makes the heating more consistent and efficient. In most houses, larger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners, pellet burners or flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces, a smaller fixed electric heater may suffice.

If your living space already has a permanent heating source such as a heat pump, then it might require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard since they’re either not efficient, cost prohibitive to operate and/or unsafe to run.

Get the complete information to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Ebdentown

Every living space in a rental property has to have at least one openable windows or an exterior door to offer natural ventilation. Furthermore, moist areas such as kitchens or bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor fan to get rid of moisture.

A ventilation standard is all about acknowledging that dry air is more easy to heat and an apartment that is well-ventilated is less likely to be a victim of damp and mould.

Bedrooms, living rooms dining rooms, and kitchens are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallway are not considered liveable , and thus don’t require an opening window or door.

Each window, door , or Skylight needs to be able to open to the outside, and stay at an open angle to allow ventilation and fresh air ventilation.

The bathrooms in all kitchens and any other room in your property with shower, bath, cooktop or other high humidity-generating items will require suitable extractor fans that vent out to the outside. This Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space and will also check for the proper extractor fans in areas with high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is a healthy house

Insulation Ebdentown

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is a requirement on all rental homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to make sure that the insulation is up to standards that are in line with the latest standard. In some instances, old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the sub floor space might need to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and will also make more easy to allow the house to hold warmth.

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

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

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

Learn more about this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Ebdentown Moisture Ingress & Drainage

The security of your rental home from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting into the building. When it is damp and moisture, it’s often not apparent that it could become a major issue, causing damage to your investment and harming your tenant’s health.

Rental properties should have efficient drainage to get rid of storm water, surface water, and ground water. This includes the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of making sure your property is dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your apartment has an enclosed gap between your flooring and the surface, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier usually a polythene sheet laid over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from entering the structure. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the 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 Ebdentown

The areas of rental property that are affected through Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Ebdentown include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Ebdentown for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns you should look for in the home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. A few examples are:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Do you think the heating system has sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being on the wrong side of an tenancy services ruling can be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental properties home assessment.