Healthy Homes Assessment Gracefield

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 now have to make sure their Gracefield 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 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 the rental property you have in order to determine whether it meets NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts requirements. After assessment, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the work which needs to be completed and provide the report with all the information needed for your Tenancy Agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to meet the obligations in the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation of the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and landlords who are not conforming to the standards could be held accountable for up to $7200 plus any additional healthier homes related fines.

We are completely independent assessors for rental properties, as well as fully qualified to evaluate 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 new, renewed or varied tenancy is signed on a Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance tasks need to be taken care of by the end of 90 days.

As of 1st July 2021, when a brand new or renewed tenancy is signed on the Gracefield rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be done by the end of 90 days.

Failure to adhere to each of Healthy Homes Standards within the deadlines can result in penalties of up to $7200. Furthermore, if a currently-in place Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance isn’t included within a new, renewed or amended tenancy agreement there may be additional penalties or an infringement fee.

Any tenant may request details regarding the Healthy Homes Standard and how they are related to the house they live in. If the landlord or property manager does not supply the information requested within 21 days from receiving the request, they may receive an infringement letter and be fined up to $750.

Additionally, there is also a penalty of approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or inaccurate Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or information. The person who is responsible for this fine is whoever is named on the tenancy agreement as the person who is letting the property out, so it could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

All information in the Statement of Compliance requirements to be correct when the tenancy agreement is signed, and ideally it should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as relevant work gets completed.

It is crucial to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face more severe penalties for not complying. The highest penalties are given for severe breaches, and landlords with six or more properties could be fined as high as $50,000, and as much as $100,000 in hearings.

Clearly, failure to adhere to your Healthy Homes requirements can hit your bank account resulting in large fines in addition to still being required to comply with the regulations. Don’t put your rental at risk. property, contact us today and make arrangements to have a house inspection performed on your rental property.

Get the full description of details on Residential Tenancies Act landlords responsibilities.

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance important?

A majority of households rent homes in New Zealand and Gracefield, and research suggests that rental homes are likely to be older, colder, have less efficient heating and have lower quality than the houses of owners.

Moldy, damp and cold homes are linked to negative health results, specifically for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular conditions. Additionally, those who have reported four or more key housing quality problems frequently have less satisfaction in their lives and lower mental health.

Improving the quality of Gracefield rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health as well as lessen interruption to learning, work and living due to illness. Your investment is also secured from mildew, mould and damp damages, 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 as Draught-stopping within Gracefield rental properties.

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

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Gracefield

Draughts may lead to lower temperatures in homes. A draughty home costs more to heat, which means wasting energy and incurring higher costs.

If a draught could be perceived as a result of gaps or holes that it needs to be sealed.

What are unjustifiable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air entering or a clear draught out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s probably a gap or an opening that requirements sealing in any way. Large cracks and gaps should be stopped permanently. Cracks that are greater than 3mm and let air in or out within your house require to be sealed. In the case of an open fireplace is not in use, it can cause draughts and must be sealed from. Property managers and landlords are responsible for making sure that these draughts are stopped whenever imaginable.

There is no require to block up intentional gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around windows and doors may be required to allow for the movement of the building when the household is heated and cools so that they are able to be closed and opened rather than securing. We will check the windows and doors in your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

The proper heating equipment is crucial for well-being homes

Heating Gracefield

Rental properties in Gracefield should have a permanent source of heat that can heat the largest or main living room to at least 18degC, even during the winter coldest days. This is the minimum indoor temperature recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical health and mental outlook.

The source of heat requirements to be fixed (i.e., not portable) with at least 1.5 Kilowatts in heating capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living space. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine if the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or if you’ll require to top up by adding a second heater. Open fires as well as unflued combustion heaters, such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered acceptable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating system you provide is an electric heater (or heat pump), it should include an thermostat. This will make the heating more reliable and effective. In most homes, larger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps, pellet burners or flued gas heaters will be required. However, in certain instances like apartments with small spaces an electric, fixed heater could be enough.

If your living space already has a fixed heating source, such as a heat pump, then it might need some additional energy to be able to meet the standards. Certain types of heaters cannot be utilised to meet the standard because they’re not effective, cost prohibitive to operate or are unsafe to operate.

See the full details to the Healthy Homes heating requirements.

Ventilation Gracefield

Each living space within a rental home must have at least one opening doors or windows to provide natural ventilation. Additionally, areas with high moisture areas such as kitchens and bathrooms must have a suitable venting fan outside to remove moisture.

It is the ventilation quality is all about understanding the fact that dried air can be more easy to heat and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to be a victim of mould and damp.

Bedrooms, living spaces, dining rooms, and kitchens are considered to be liveable spaces. Spaces that connect, such as the hallway are not considered liveable and do not need an opening window or door.

Each window, door or Skylight requirements at least 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.

All kitchens and bathrooms, and any other room in your home that has a bath, shower or cooktop, or any other moisture-producing item will require appropriate extractor fans which are vented towards the outside. We offer a Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation in each livable space with the right extractor fan in areas of high moisture.

Learn more about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A dry and warm home is an ideal home

Insulation Gracefield

The insulation of the ceiling and underfloor is required to all rental homes from 1 July 2019. Property managers and landlords must ensure that the insulation meets the new standard. In certain situations, the old ceiling insulation as well as insulation within the subfloor space may require to be replaced or replaced.

A well-insulated house will help to control condensation and lessen the likelihood of mould and dampness, as well as making it easier to the home to retain heat.

Insulation needs to meet the R-values for your area

The "R" stands for thermal resistance and it is a measurement of how well the insulation is able to resist heat flow. The more R-value is higher, the more efficient 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 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 this Healthy Homes insulation quality.

Gracefield Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from water damage isn’t only about the inside of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain as well as groundwater to move, and also stop it from getting inside. When it comes to moisture and damp it’s often not apparent that it can cause a lot of trouble and end up causing damages to your investment and affecting the tenant’s health.

Rental properties need to have effective drainage to get rid of the stormwater and surface waters, and ground water, which includes an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure the water has a proper place to go, and also that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath buildings is an essential part of maintaining your property’s dry.

In addition to the drainage system that will prevent the ingress of moisture, if your rental is enclosed between your flooring and ground, a ground water barrier must be installed if it is reasonably practicable to do so.

An underground moisture barrier generally an insulating sheet of polythene laid over the ground to stop any moisture in the ground from rising into the building. It also helps prevent from causing damage to the flooring insulation.

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

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Gracefield

Rental property areas affected to the Healthy Homes Standards in Gracefield include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Gracefield for Rental Properties

There are a myriad of concerns to check in an home evaluation to determine if your rental property meets all the basic requirements of Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space covered in insulation and is there a ground waterproofing barrier?
• Does the ceiling insulation need topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Is there adequate drainage and stopping of draughts?
• Does the home have sufficient ventilation including extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently falling on the wrong side of the ruling on tenancy services ruling could be significant for landlords and property managers. For expert guidance, contact us today and book your rental property house evaluation.