Healthy Homes Assessment Harbour View

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? The landlords are now required to make sure that their Harbour View rental properties meet the minimum Healthy Homes Standards within 90 days of a new or renewed tenancy and all private rentals are required to be fully in compliance by July 1st 2024.

The areas covered in the Healthy Homes Standards are:

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

We can assess your rental property to determine whether it satisfies the NZ Healthy Homes and Residential Tenancy Acts standards. After assessing, we’ll advise you or your property manager of the tasks required. requirements to be completed, and provide a report with all the information needed to complete your tenancy agreement’s Healthy Home Statement of Compliance.

Failure to fulfill the requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards is a violation under the Residential Tenancies Act 1986, and any landlord who is found to be not in compliance could face fines of up to $7,200 in addition to any healthy homes connected fines.

We’re fully independent assessors of rental property, we are completely certified to assess 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 or renewed tenancy is signed on a Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished inside of 90 days.

Since the 1st July of 2021, when a new, renewed or varied lease is entered into on the Harbour View rental property, all Healthy Homes compliance work must be finished within 90 days.

Failure to comply with all of the Healthy Homes Standards within the expected timeframe can result in an amount of $7200. Furthermore, if a existing Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance is not incorporated within an updated, renewed, or revised tenancy agreement, there could be an additional penalty or infringement fee.

Any tenant can ask for information about the Healthy Homes Standard and how they relate to the home they are living in. If the the property manager doesn’t supply the required information within 21 days from receiving the request, they can receive an infringement notification and could be fined up to $750.

In addition, there’s also a penalty approximately $900 for landlords and property managers providing a false or false Healthy Homes Statement of Compliance or other information. The person responsible for this fine is the one who is named on the lease agreement as the person who is letting the property out which could be the landlord’s name or the property management company.

The information contained in the Statement of Compliance needs to be correct when the tenancy contract is completed, and should be kept updated during the entire tenancy, as necessary work related to it is finished.

It’s also important to keep in mind that landlords who manage several rental properties can face additional fines for non-compliance. The highest penalties are reserved only for serious breaches. Landlords with at least six rental properties could receive fines of up to $50,000, or as high as $100,000 for hearing claims.

Clearly, failure to comply with compliance with Healthy Homes requirements can hit your pocket hard, resulting in significant fines and having to continue to comply. Don’t risk your rental property Call us today and request an house assessment performed for your rental property.

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

Healthy homes are important

What are the reasons why Healthy Homes Compliance so important?

Around 1 in 3 households rent in New Zealand and Harbour View, and research suggests that rental houses are more likely to be colder, older, have less efficient heating and tend to be of poorer quality than owner occupied properties.

Moldy, damp and cold houses are associated with negative well-being outcomes, particularly for ailments like colds and flu, asthma and cardiovascular issues. In addition, people who have reported four or more key home quality issues often suffer from low life satisfaction and reduced well-being.

Enhancing the quality of Harbour View rental property can help tenants enjoy better physical and mental health, and lessen the interruption to learning, work and daily life due to diseases. Your investment will also be better protected from mould, mildew and damp-related damage, which results in lower maintenance costs over the long term.

The Healthy Homes Standards are a list of specific and minimum standards for Heating, Insulation Ventilation, Moisture ingress and Drainage, as well as Draught Control within Harbour View rental properties.

Get started now and contact us about having a Harbour View Healthy Home assessment on your rental property today.

Unreasonable Gaps & Holes

Draught Stopping Harbour View

Draughts increase the likelihood of lower temperatures in households. A humid house costs more to heat, resulting in wasted energy and resulting in higher bills.

If a draft can be felt through gaps that are too large or holes or holes, it needs to be sealed.

What are the most unreasonable gaps or holes?

If you can feel external air getting in, or see an unobstructed draught coming out of a hole or gap or crack, then it’s most likely a gap or hole which requirements sealing in the way you can. Large cracks and gaps should be permanently stopped. Gaps greater than 3mm that let air into or out into the home require the sealing. For example, if the open fireplace isn’t used it could cause draughts, and should be shut off. Property managers and landlords are accountable for ensuring that draughts from the fireplace are removed as much as possible.

There is no require to block off gaps or holes in the building. For instance, small gaps around doors and windows might be necessary to allow for movement of the building when the household heats and cools, in order to let them be opened and closed rather instead of being stuck. We will inspect all doors and windows as part of your Healthy Homes assessment of your rental property.

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

Adequate heaters are crucial to ensure well-being homes

Heating Harbour View

Rental properties in Harbour View need to have a stable source of heat which can warm the living space to a minimum of 18degC, even on the winter coldest days. This is the recommended minimum indoor temperature that is recommended by the World Health Organisation for people’s physical well-being as well as their mental health.

The source of heat needs to be fixed (i.e., not portable), at minimum 1.5 horsepower in capacity, and meet the minimum heating capacity needed for the main living room. The Heating Assessment Tool can be used to determine whether the current fix heater(s) are sufficient or whether you will require to top up with a new heater. Open fires and unflued combustion heaters such as mobile LPG bottle heaters aren’t considered to be suitable heating options in Healthy Homes Standard. Healthy Homes Standard.

If the heating that you provide is electric heating or heat source, it needs to have a thermostat. This makes your heating more consistent and effective. For the majority of homes, bigger fixed heating devices such as wood burners, heat pumps pellet burners, flued gas heaters are needed. However, in some cases like small apartment buildings an electric, fixed heater may be sufficient.

If the main living room already has a fixed heating source, such as the heat pump, it may need an upgrade in order to comply with the standards. Certain kinds of heaters aren’t able to be utilised to meet the quality since they’re either expensive, inefficient and/or unhealthy to run.

Find the complete specifications for details on Healthy Homes heating needs.

Ventilation Harbour View

Every living space in a rental property must include at least one open doors or windows to provide natural airflow. In addition, humid areas like kitchens and bathrooms should have an externally vented extractor to eliminate moisture.

The ventilation quality is all about acknowledging how dry air will be less difficult to heat, and that a property that is well ventilated is less likely to develop mould and damp.

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

Every window, door or the skylight needs for them to be in a position open to the outside, and stay closed in order to allow to circulate fresh air as well as air flow.

All bathrooms and kitchens as well as any other space in your property with a bath, shower, cooktop or other high moisture generating item will need appropriate extractor fans that can be vented to the outside. The Healthy Homes Assessment service will check that there is adequate ventilation throughout the living spaces, including suitable extractor fans for areas that are high in moisture.

Find out all the details about this Healthy Homes ventilation standard.

A comfortable, dry house is a healthy house

Insulation Harbour View

Ceiling and underfloor insulation is required in all rental houses since 1 July 2019. All landlords and property managers are required to ensure that the insulation is in line with the new quality. In certain situations, the existing ceiling insulation or insulation in the subfloor space might require to be added or replaced.

A well-insulated house can reduce condensation and reduce the chances of mould and damp, and it will make an easier task to the home to keep the heat.

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

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

• Zone 1 - Auckland & Northland - ceiling R 2.9 and underfloor R 1.3
• Zone 2 – The rest part 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 and underfloor R 1.3

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

Harbour View Moisture Ingress & Drainage

Making sure your rental property is protected from the effects of moisture isn’t just a matter of the interior of the building It’s about having to ensure there is somewhere to allow surface, rain and underground water to flow and also stop it from getting into the building. When it comes to moisture and damp it is frequently not apparent that it can become a big problem and cause the property to suffer and affecting the tenant’s well-being.

Rental properties need to be equipped with efficient drainage to get rid of floodwaters, surface water, and ground water, including an appropriate outfall or runoff. Making sure that water has a location to go, and that it isn’t allowed to remain beneath structures is an important aspect of maintaining your property’s dry.

Alongside the drainage system that will prevent moisture from entering, if your rental is enclosed between the floor and the soil, a ground-water barrier should be put in place if it’s reasonably practicable to do so.

Ground moisture barriers are usually a sheet of polythene that is placed over the ground, to block any moisture from the ground from rising into the property. It also helps to prevent moisture damage to the underfloor insulation.

See the full details of The Healthy Homes moisture ingress and drainage quality.

Is your rental a Healthy Home?

Rental Property Home Assessments Harbour View

Rental property areas affected by Healthy Homes Standards. Healthy Homes Standard in Harbour View include each:

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

Checking Your Healthy Home?

Home Assessments Harbour View for Rental Properties

There are a variety of concerns you should look for during an home review to determine if your rental property meets the minimum requirements of the Healthy Homes Standards. Some examples include:

• Is the sub floor space protected and does it have a moisture barrier in place?
• Does the ceiling insulation require topping up or replacing?
• Is the heater equipped with sufficient capacity?
• Are there enough drainage and draught-stopping?
• Does the house have adequate ventilation? This includes extractor fans?

The repercussions of not having the Healthy Home in accordance with regulations under the Residential Tenancies Act and consequently being in the wrong of the tenancy services ruling could be significant for property managers and landlords. For expert advice get in touch today to book your rental property house evaluation.