Healthy Homes Assessment Glenside

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you not know that Healthy Homes Standards came into effect on the 1st of July 2021? The landlords are now required to make sure their Glenside rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any renewed or new tenancy and all private rental properties are required to 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 will assess your rental property and determine whether it is in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After the assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of any work needed to be completed. requirements to be done and offer an evaluation report with all the information required to complete your tenancy agreement’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 who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes related fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, and 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

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed for a Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance items must be done inside of 90 days.

From the 1st of July in 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Glenside rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Inability to adhere to all of the Healthy Homes Standards by the end of the period of time expected can lead to penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a current Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, it could result in an additional fine or infringement fee.

Anyone can request information regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they reside in. If the property manager is unable to supply the necessary information within 21 days from getting the notice, the tenant will receive an infringement notice and be fined upto $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for property owners or property managers providing a false or misleading Healthy Homes Compliance Statement or any other information. The person responsible to pay this fine is the one who is named on the tenancy agreement as the one who is renting the property It could also be the name of the landlord, or the property management company.

All the information on the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy agreement is executed, and it should be kept updated throughout the duration of the tenancy when any relevant work gets completed.

It is also crucial to keep in mind that a landlord who have multiple rental properties may receive even higher fines for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are handed down for severe breaches. Landlords with more than six properties could be fined up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your wallet with massive fines as well as having to continue to comply. Don’t take a chance with your rental property, contact us today and ask us to conduct a home assessment performed on your rental property.

See the full details for this law. Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance so Important?

A majority of households rent the property in New Zealand and Glenside, and research indicates that rental houses are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating, and generally tend to be lower standard than those owned by owners.

The damp, cold and mouldy houses are associated with negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and asthma, as well as heart diseases. Additionally, those who have reported four or more major house quality problems often experience lower levels of satisfaction with life and a decrease in mental wellbeing.

Improve the standard of Glenside rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen disruption to work, learning and living due to illness. Your investment is also protected from mould, mildew and damp damages, which means lower costs for maintenance in the long run.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a set of specific and minimal standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught stopping in Glenside rental properties.

Begin now by calling about the Glenside Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Glenside

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A damp home is more expensive to heat, which completed jobs in wasting energy and increased bills.

If a draft can be noticed from gaps that are not adequate or holes that it needs to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught from a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that needs sealing in some way. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air to enter or exit from your home require seals. For instance, if an open fireplace is not in use, it can create draughts. This should be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

You don’t require to cover up gaps or holes that are part of the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows could be necessary to allow for the movement of the building when the home warms and cools so that they are able to be shut and opened, rather than being stuck. We will test all doors and windows during the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are important to ensure well-being homes

Heating Glenside

Glenside rental properties should have a permanent source of heating that is able to heat the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even during the most coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature suggested by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity and have the minimum required heating capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine whether your current installed heater(s) are adequate or whether you will need to "top up" with a new heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters, such as portable LPG bottle heaters are not considered to be acceptable heating options for The Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have a thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and efficient. For most houses, larger fixed heating equipment like wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in some cases like small apartments the smaller fixed electric heater may be sufficient.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, like the heat pump, it could require some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters cannot be used to comply with the standard because they’re expensive, inefficient or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Glenside

Each liveable space in the rental property should contain at minimum one open door or window to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms should be equipped with an venting fan outside to remove moisture.

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

Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms are considered to be liveable spaces. Connecting spaces like the hallway aren’t considered liveable and therefore are not require an opening door or window.

Every window, door or Skylight requirements at least to open up to the outside while remaining closed in order to allow for fresh air circulation and ventilation.

Bathrooms, kitchens, as well as any other space in your home that has a bath, shower and cooktop or another moisture generating item will need proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outside. Our Healthy Homes Assessment service will make sure there is sufficient ventilation throughout the living spaces with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

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

A warm dry home is an ideal house

Insulation Glenside

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required for all rent homes since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers have to ensure that the insulation is in line with current quality. In some cases, existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be filled with or replaced.

A properly insulated home will help to control condensation, and decrease the risk of dampness and mould, and it will make much easier to allow the house to hold the heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values that are appropriate for your region.

The "R" stands for thermal resistance, and is a measure of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The greater the R-value, the higher the standard of insulation.

• Zone 1 Zone 1 Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 in the underfloor, 1.3
• Zone 2 – the remainder 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 below floor R 1.3

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

Glenside Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from dampness isn’t just about what’s inside the building; you have to ensure there is somewhere for surface, rain or ground water, and prevent it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s typically those things that you aren’t aware of that could be a huge problem and cause damage to your investment as well as affecting the tenant’s health.

Properties that are rented must have efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water and groundwater, with an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a place to go and that it doesn’t sit beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and surface, a ground moisture barrier must be constructed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are typically a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture that is present in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

Check out the complete details of the Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Glenside

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to Health Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standards in Glenside include each:

• Living Room
• Bedroom
• Dining Room
• Bathrooms
• Kitchens
• Laundry

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Glenside for Rental Properties

There are numerous things to check when conducting an home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimal requirements of the Healthy Homes Standard. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor insulated and is a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Do you think the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Does the heat pump have enough capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and the draught is stopped?
• Does the home has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having an Healthy Home with regard to lawful Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of an tenant solutions ruling can be extremely costly for landlords and property managers. For specialist assistance, get in touch now and schedule your rental properties home evaluation.