Healthy Homes Assessment Gracefield

Rental Property Expert Advice

Healthy Homes Assessment Services

Did you know that the Healthy Homes Standards came into in force on July 1, 2021? Landlords are now required to ensure that their Gracefield rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of any new or renewed tenancy, and all private rentals are required to be completely conforming by the 1st July 2024.

The subjects covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can evaluate your rental property to determine whether it’s in compliance with the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we will advise you or your property manager about the tasks which requirements to be completed, and provide the report with all the necessary information for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a breach in the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not following the rules could be subject to fines of as much as $7,200 and additional healthier homes relevant fines.

Our company is completely independent assessors of rental properties, we are completely qualified 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 tenancy is signed on a Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work have to be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, once a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Gracefield 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 inside of the anticipated timeframe could result in the possibility of a fine up to $7200. Additionally, if the most present Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included in a new, renewed or revised tenancy contract, there may be an additional fine or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the building they live in. If the property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from being informed of the request, they could receive an infringement letter and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there is also a penalty up to $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or incorrect Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is liable for this fine is the person who is listed on the tenancy agreement as the person who is renting the property, so it could be the name of the landlord as well as the company that manages the property.

All information in the Compliance Statement requirements to be up-to-date before the tenancy agreement can be signed, and ideally it should be kept updated through the tenancy period as related work is completed.

It’s important to keep in mind that landlords who have several rental properties can face greater penalties for non-compliance. The harshest penalties are reserved for the most serious breaches, and landlords with more than six properties could be penalised up to $50,000 and as high as $100,000 in the case of hearing claims.

In the end, a failure to meet requirements of Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket with significant fines and continuing to be required to comply with the requirements. Do not risk your rental property Call us today and make arrangements to have an house inspection performed on the rental property you are renting.

Get the full description of how to apply the Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes matter

Why is Healthy Homes Compliance important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent the property in New Zealand and Gracefield, and research suggests that rental homes tend to be colder, older, have less effective heating and are of lower standard than those owned by owners.

Moldy, damp and cold houses can have negative well-being outcomes, particularly for illnesses such as colds and influenza, asthma, and cardiovascular issues. Furthermore, people who have reported at least four key house quality problems often experience poor life satisfaction and lower psychological well-being.

The improvement in the standard of Gracefield rental property can allow tenants to experience better mental and physical health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life because of illnesses. Your investment will also be better protected from mildew, mould and damp-related damage, which completed jobs in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standard is a list of the specific and minimum standards for heating, insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well Draught Control in Gracefield rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Gracefield

Draughts are a major cause of lower temperatures in households. A damp house is more expensive to heat, meaning wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught is perceived as a result of gaps or holes the area requirements to be closed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you are able to feel external air getting in, or see a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it is probably a gap or hole that needs sealing in somehow. Large gaps and cracks should be stopped permanently. Any gaps greater than 3mm that allow air in or out into the house require sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t in use it may cause draughts and should be blocked from. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring such draughts are eliminated whenever possible.

You don’t require to block up intentional holes or gaps in the construction. For example, tiny gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow movement of the structure as the home heats and cools, in order to let them be shut and opened, rather instead of being stuck. We will check the windows and doors in the Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Gracefield

Gracefield rental properties need to have a stable source of heating that can warm the main or largest living room to at least 18degC even on the coldest days of the year. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental well-being.

The heating source requirements for it to be permanent (i.e. not portable), at minimum 1.5 kW of heating capacity and have the minimum requirement for heat capacity in the living area. A Heating Assessment Tool may be used to determine if the existing permanent heater(s) are adequate or if you’ll require to "top up" by adding a second heater. Unflued combustion and open fire heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be acceptable heating options under the Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is electric heating (or heat pump), then it must include an thermostat. This will help make your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of houses, bigger fixed heating systems such as heat pumps, wood burners pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in certain instances such as small apartments, a smaller fixed electric heater might be enough.

If the main living room is already equipped with a fixed heating source like heat pumps, it might need some additional energy to meet the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or unsafe to operate.

See the full details for the Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Gracefield

Each liveable space in the rental property should include at least one open windows or an exterior door to provide natural airflow. In addition, high moisture areas such as kitchens or bathrooms must have a suitable externally vented extractor fan that can get rid of moisture.

It is the ventilation standard is all about recognising the fact that dry air is easier to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to grow mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, kitchens, and dining areas are considered liveable areas. Connecting spaces like the hallways are not liveable , and thus are not need an opening door or window.

Each door, window or skylight requirements to have the ability to open to the outside, and stay fixed in an open position to allow ventilation and fresh air air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens and every other room of your home with a bath, shower cooker or any other water-generating appliance will require proper extractor fan systems that are vented to the outdoors. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will verify that there is enough ventilation in every living space that includes extractor fans that are suitable in areas with high moisture.

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

A cozy dry house is a healthy home

Insulation Gracefield

Underfloor and ceiling insulation is required for all rent houses since July 1, 2019. All landlords and property managers should make sure the insulation meets the new quality. In certain situations, the an existing insulation on the ceiling or in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A properly insulated home can help control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness and also makes more easy to the home to hold the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland Ceiling R 2.9 Underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – the rest of the 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

See the full details of the Healthy Homes insulation standard.

Gracefield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Protecting your rental property from moisture isn’t just about the inside it’s also about the outside. You must make sure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move and prevent it from getting inside. When it is damp and moisture, it is usually the concerns you don’t notice that can become a big problem that can cause damage to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties must have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and groundwater, with the proper outfall or runoff. Making sure that the water has a place to go, and also that it doesn’t get sucked into structures is an important aspect of making sure your property is dry.

Alongside a drainage system to prevent moisture ingress, if your rental is enclosed between floorboards and the ground, a ground moisture barrier should be put in place if it is reasonably practicable to install it.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from accumulating into the property. It also helps to prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Gracefield

Areas of rental properties that are impacted to The Healthy Homes Standards in Gracefield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Gracefield for Rental Properties

There are numerous concerns to be able to examine in a home evaluation to determine if your rental property is in compliance with all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. There are a few examples:

• Is the space under the floor protected and does it have a water barrier in place?
• Is the ceiling insulation in need of topping up? require replenishment or replacement?
• Can the unit heat up sufficient capacity?
• Does the water flow properly and is there draught-stopping?
• Does the house has enough ventilation, including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy home in relation to The Residential Tenancies Act and consequently getting on the wrong side of an Tenancy solutions ruling can be extremely costly for property owners and landlords. For expert advice get in touch now and schedule your rental property house evaluation.